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Climate Action Events
Lean into courageous climate action through our ongoing educational events.
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An Evening with Brian McLaren - Life After Doom
Join Way Collective for an evening with spirituality, activism, and climate crisis author Brian McLaren. McLaren will talk about his new book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, which engages with the catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse.
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“Do I Need This?" Film Screening and Discussion
Join us for the Santa Barbara premiere of "Do I Need This?," an acclaimed documentary about consumerism, excess, and the stuff from which happiness is truly made.
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Youth Climate Workshop - Sustainable Fashion
In this workshop, we'll focus on the impacts of the fashion industry and what we can do to lighten our footprint. Come meet local experts and enjoy fun activities!
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
Now in its 55th year, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Attracting over 30,000 people and 150+ eco-friendly exhibitors each year, the festival features two days of live music and speakers, CEC’s Environmental Hero Award ceremony, Green Car Show and Ride & Drive experiences, and family-friendly programming. Presented by the Community Environmental Council and CarpEvents.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Energy Equity: Pathways to a Green Economy on the Central Coast
Join us for an evening with climate and environmental justice author and researcher Dr. J. Mijin Cha. Dr. Cha will be joined by Dr. David Pellow in a conversation about her new book, "A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future."
Dr. Cha is an assistant professor of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz, an advisory board member of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Labor and Community, and a fellow at Cornell University's Climate Jobs Institute and at the Climate and Community Institute. Dr. Pellow is a UC Santa Barbara Dehlsen Chair and Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Global Environmental Justice Project. This event is co-hosted by CEC, the Central Coast Climate Justice Network and the UC Santa Barbara Community Labor Center.
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The State of Fire, Why California Burns: Talk and Book Signing
Join the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network for a special evening with naturalist, illustrator, and award-winning author Obi Kaufmann, sharing his timely book The State of Fire, Why California Burns. From the creator of The California Field Atlas, Obi Kaufmann shares a book of stewardship, resilience, and hope.
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A New Santa Barbara Dining Experience: The Captain's Table
Dive into an extraordinary evening celebrating our local waters at Moby Dick Restaurant's inaugural Captain's Table dinner series. Embark on a culinary adventure that is both tasty and educational, featuring Spiny Lobster, the prized catch of the Santa Barbara Channel. The evening includes a three-course prix fixe dinner, tales from the sea with veteran commercial fisher Victoria Voss, fascinating lobster lore from marine expert Dr. Kim Selkoe, a live cooking demonstration by Chef Scott Howard, and curated wine pairings by Sandhi Wines. Event is co-sponsored by Get Hooked Seafood. The Community Environmental Council was gifted ownership shares in Moby Dick Restaurant through a generous bequest by one of its founders. When you dine at the restaurant, you support CEC's work.
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“Broke" Film Screening and Panel
This event has been cancelled due to weather. Ten years ago, a pipeline ruptured near Refugio State Beach, spilling over 100,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean and contaminating one of the most biologically diverse areas on the California Central Coast. Join us for a screening of "Broke," a film that vividly captures the Refugio Oil Spill, followed by a discussion with local experts about the current proposal to restart the pipeline that caused the spill.
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Climate Fridays Santa Barbara
Join CEC, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Sierra Club on the first Friday of each month to gather with fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends.
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Blue Economy Summit
This half-day Blue Economy Innovation Summit is hosted by Santa Barbara’s new Ocean Collective initiative, led by Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara. The summit will bring together academic researchers, policymakers, and industry representatives from our region's blue economy, including sustainable fishing, aquaculture, coastal conservation, renewable ocean energy and blue tech, to brainstorm new collaborative R&D projects that could build resilience and accelerate growth for our region’s blue economy. Support for the summit comes from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCSB with Climate Innovation Funding from the State of California.
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“Raging Waters" Film and Panel Discussion
As a result of climate change, storms and flooding are becoming more frequent and more severe. Join us for a screening of the film "Raging Waters: The Devastating Power of Floods" followed by a discussion with local experts about managing increasing flooding events and threats.
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Environmental Allies Gathering & Climate Film Screening: Chasing Carbon Zero
Friends and allies, drop in to CEC’s Environmental Hub for warm hugs and cold beer (as well as nibbles and wine) as we reconnect and reaffirm our work of empowering strong heart-centered, climate-resilient communities. You are invited to stay for a screening of “Chasing Climate Zero,” an inspiring NOVA documentary that explores the race to Net Zero by 2050. Register for event
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Noche Familiar de Guadalupe
Le invitamos a informarse sobre lo que hay en el aire que respiramos con presentaciones y conversaciones sobre los resultados de la calidad del aire de Guadalupe. Comparta y hable con nuestro equipo sobre sus experiencias con la calidad del aire. Estaremos disponibles en inglés y español.
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Guadalupe Family Night
Come learn about what is in the air you breathe with presentations and conversations about the Guadalupe’s Air Quality Findings. Have a conversation with our team about your experiences with air quality. Staff will be available to chat in English and Spanish.
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Central Coast Town Hall & Green Drinks
Join the Central Coast Green Business Council (CCGBC) for a fun and informative town hall meeting.
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CEC Youth Climate Workshop
Sixth through twelfth grade students are invited to join CEC for a workshop that explores ways we can communicate climate change through advocacy.
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Living With Fire Summit
At this summit, presenters will share progress, successes, and challenges of wildfire resilience projects at various stages in our region, as well as future opportunities for innovation.
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Second Life: Building Community around Preservation and Adaptive Reuse in the California Desert
This event comprises a series of presentations followed by a panel discussion analyzing the impact of preservation and adaptive reuse projects in the California desert.
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ArchitecTours
Join the American Institute of Architects, Santa Barbara for their 15th annual ArchitecTours, a celebration of exceptional local architecture, showcasing the design and depth of knowledge of AIASB architects.
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Abriendo camino para los vehículos eléctricos
Cambiarse a un vehículo eléctrico puede ser intimidante.
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Navigating EV Roadblocks
Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) can be daunting.
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Uniting the Central Coast for Action: Why Offshore Wind is Needed
Are you interested in learning more about offshore wind energy? Join us for Part 1 of a series of three virtual educational events!
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Santa Barbara Event Professionals Networking Mixer
Join us for an exclusive Industry Night for non-profit event planners, vendors, and partners at our Environmental Hub.
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Wild for the Wild: Celebrating Regional Biodiversity
Join us for a special Field Day event at Jalama Canyon Ranch, hosted by White Buffalo Land Trust as part of the statewide CA Biodiversity Day initiative led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
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Stronger State Street
Join us for presentations by Strong Towns Santa Barbara members on the mobility, architectural, and economic considerations for redesigning the heart of Santa Barbara.
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The Case for Degrowth: Alternative Economics for Sustainable Futures
Giorgos Kallis is an ecological economist and political ecologist working on environmental justice and limits to growth.
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“Just the Beginning: A Century of Political Power and the League of Women Voters" Film Screening
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, celebrating the date the 19th Amendment was certified.
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The Power of Participation
This year, and in coming years, California can protect the climate, the environment, and people's health through sound environmental laws.
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An Evening with Nicole Masters: Envisioning a New Future Through Soil Resilience, Community, and Connection
Join us for an evening with agroecologist, author, and educator Nicole Masters for an inspiring presentation and discussion about the crucial role of community in soil stewardship and environmental resilience.
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Creating Local Resilience with Regenerative Design: Solar Powered Homes, Communities, and Gardens
Join the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network for an evening with Leif H. Skogberg, a holistic sustainability educator, consultant, builder, designer
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"Plastic People" Santa Barbara Premiere
Join us for the Santa Barbara premiere of "Plastic People" at CEC's Environmental Hub! This landmark feature documentary chronicles humanity’s fraught relationship with plastic and one woman’s mission to expose shocking new revelations about the impact of microplastics on human health.
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La Crisis del Plástico: Ciencia y Soluciones
El plástico está en todas partes. Como resultado, nuestros cuerpos y ecosistemas naturales contienen multitudes de microplásticos dañinos.
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The Plastic Crisis: Science and Solutions
Plastic is everywhere. As a result, our bodies and natural systems contain multitudes of harmful microplastics. In addition, fossil fuel-based plastic manufacturing disproportionately impacts communities of color while exacerbating the climate crisis.