The California State University has officially launched the
CSU Climate Adaptation Consortium, nicknamed CSU ADAPT, to unite the university system in advancing climate resilience through education, research and workforce development, and amplify its role as a leader in climate adaptation.
California faces increasingly severe climate impacts—from wildfires and drought to sea level rise and extreme heat. With more than 125,000 graduates annually and deep ties to local communities, the CSU can drive scalable, equitable climate solutions across the state.
CSU ADAPT seeks to connect faculty, staff, students and external partners to address climate change through collaborative research, curriculum development and community engagement, all while preparing students for careers in climate resilience and sustainability.
“The CSU has a direct touchpoint with one in three households in California," Kai Burrus, a professor of biology at San Francisco State, said during the inaugural CSU ADAPT launch webinar held May 22. “As the largest and most diverse four-year public university system, we are uniquely positioned to cultivate the next generation of climate innovators that lead to sustainable solutions and drive the green economy."
Burrus—who has acted as a point of contact to connect individuals across the CSU already working on climate adaptation—added that California “is the fourth largest economy in the world, so if we can change California, we can still change the world."
The consortium represents one of
11 systemwide CSU consortia that address the state's most vital needs by conducting research on a breadth of topics, from agriculture and biotechnology to the desert, the ocean and water and provides experiential learning opportunities for students that prepare them for the workforce.
“CSU ADAPT truly embodies the best of the CSU, leveraging our people, our collaborative spirit and our 'systemness' to significantly advance climate change adaptation and climate action education and research," said Jenn Capps, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly Humboldt. Capps is also a member of the CSU ADAPT steering committee and served as chair of the working group that helped establish the consortium.
During the launch webinar, CSU ADAPT Interim Executive Director Megan Jennings, a conservation ecologist at San Diego State, outlined the consortium's four strategic goals:
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Grow Partnerships: The consortium will build relationships with state agencies, local communities, nonprofits, private industry and other academic institutions to codevelop climate adaptation research and workforce training programs.
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Secure Funding: CSU ADAPT will support collaborative grant proposals and provide resources like a
centralized grants dashboard to help faculty and staff identify and apply for funding.
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Share Knowledge: The consortium will facilitate cross-campus collaboration on climate-related curriculum, research and best practices, including the development of topical working groups and faculty learning communities.
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Engage Students: CSU ADAPT will expand experiential learning opportunities, such as living labs and community-based projects, to ensure students gain hands-on experience in climate adaptation.
Students are at the heart of CSU ADAPT's mission, Jennings said. The consortium will connect students with real-world climate challenges through internships, research assistantships and community-engaged projects. Jennings called out programs like the
SAGE Project at SDSU and the
Climate Solutions Now conference at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as examples of the kind of immersive learning experiences CSU ADAPT aims to scale.
Additionally, CSU ADAPT aims to build climate literacy across all disciplines, ensuring every graduate is prepared to support a sustainable future. To achieve this, the consortium is developing the CSU Climate LAB (Lead, Adapt, Bridge), a comprehensive framework to cultivate climate-literate leaders.
The consortium's efforts align with California Governor Gavin Newsom's
Master Plan for Career Education, which calls on the CSU to promote career pathways in education, climate and technology. CSU Chancellor Mildred García served on the Governor's Council for Career Education that helped develop the master plan.
While the consortium steering committee plans to spend the summer further developing plans for activities and outreach, it has launched a
new website and
newsletter to keep the community informed and engaged, and Jennings encourages faculty, staff and students to get involved.
“If you're already doing climate work, we want to support you," she said. “If you're looking for a way in, we want to welcome you. The more voices at the table, the stronger we'll be."
Learn more about CSU ADAPT.