Social Justice in Climate Finance Symposium
December 4, 2026 at UC Santa Cruz
The Social Justice in Climate Finance Symposium brings together global communities within and beyond academia to envision how to mobilize climate financing for the benefit of frontline communities. To meet our collective climate challenges, we must reimagine how billions of dollars are invested into building resilient societies. We welcome climate and environmental justice leaders across sectors to propose their priorities and approaches for inclusive climate investments from public, private, and individual sources. The goal of the symposium is to identify pathways for adaptation and mitigation funding to protect and empower those experiencing the most acute climate impacts by aligning investment strategies with academic approaches and governmental policies, while centering community voices.
The in-person, one-day symposium at UC Santa Cruz will include two keynote addresses from Dave Jones, former California Insurance Commissioner and a community leader to be identified through the nomination detailed process below (TBC). We will also feature presenters, including local and global leaders from CBOs, Environmental Justice (EJ) and Climate Justice (CJ) practitioners, policymakers, and academics.
Visit our website to learn more
Apply and attend
We are currently accepting:
- Nominations for keynote community speaker
- Call for presenters
- Host a discussion
Symposium participation is free, however, we are prioritizing intimate, in-depth conversations. Participation is by invitation only. Invitations will be sent following the symposium program announcement. If you, or someone you know, should attend, please let us know their name, position, a brief bio, and why they should be involved in the symposium discussion at transform@ucsc.edu.
Timeline
- March 30: Applications open
- April 30: Applications close
- May 20: Successful applications announced
- July: Symposium program announced
Sponsored by University of California Santa Cruz: Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN), Institute for Social Transformation, Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, and Center for Reimagining Leadership.