AB 39: California-China Climate Institute.

Existing law establishes the University of California as a public trust under the administration of the Regents of the University of California. The University of California provides instruction and performs research at the 10 campuses it operates and maintains in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.

This bill would, subject to the availability of private funds, authorize the Regents of the University of California to establish the California-China Climate Institute, as specified, and in partnership with the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University and other entities and institutions in China and California. The bill would require the institute to foster collaboration to inform and shape climate policy and advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, advance joint policy research on major climate issues, support high-level dialogue on specific climate issues, and provide training to specified entities to advance climate and environmental policies. The bill would require the institute to work closely with University of California campuses, departments, and leaders, and would authorize the institute to receive guidance and support from experts and state entities.