Clothes, food, phones, recycling … they’re all contributing to climate change. Despite the corporate action that is needed to address climate change, at an individual level, there are many ways students can engage in environmentally sustainable practices, according to Dr. Monalisa Chatterjee, a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Studies at USC.
“Any kind of social change that we are trying to achieve in this world for the better of our planet and our society, it has to begin at some individual scale,” Chatterjee said. “Even if one person starts to make the correct choices, it can start a movement.”
With that, students are invited to participate in the diverse events that USC is offering for Earth month this April.
The Arts and Climate Collective Festival - April 11
The Arts and Climate Collective Festival celebrates Earth Month through a combination of environmental activism and live music - all for the purpose of “imagin[ing] a fossil-free L.A.!,” according to the event’s page.
The event, which is free and open to everyone, will feature conversations with experts and activists, food giveaways, live music, and a resource fair that allows attendees to connect with organizations working towards building sustainable communities in South Los Angeles and the Eastside.
Student Sustainability Town Hall - April 18
A town hall co-hosted by the Environmental Student Assembly and the Student Sustainability Committee, will have an open floor for students to “learn, voice concerns, or ask questions about sustainability at USC and beyond.” Panelists for this Town Hall will be faculty and administration from USC’s Presidential Working Group.
You can RSVP for the event here.
LA River Clean Up - April 15 and April 22
Friends of the L.A. River will be hosting its 33rd annual L.A. River clean up. There will be different activities, from the cleanups to Habitat Restoration sites and child-friendly education activities. Across two Saturdays, volunteers can join at different FoLAR sites across 51 miles of the L.A. River — from the Upper River to the Middle River and Lower River.
Find more info here.
Alamitos Beach Clean Up - April 23
The Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies is collaborating with the Assignment Earth, Annenberg Civic Engagement and the USC Fieser Research Group to organize a beach clean up in honor of Earth Day. Prizes are available for the top collecting teams.
You can sign up for the event here.
Operations and Impacts of Zero-Waste Events - Fall 2023
Operations and Impacts of Zero-Waste Events (ENST 499) is a class offered this fall that will allow students to participate in before, during and after event zero-waste initiatives at the Colosseum using USC Football Games as a living laboratory.
Eco Alarm Podcast
Founded by USC students in the fall of 2021, the Eco Alarm podcast seeks to highlight “environmental activists, entrepreneurs, students, and everyone in between” to “inspire climate action.”
You can listen to episodes here.
Joseph Hyslop contributed reporting to this piece.