Los Angeles County Gets a C+ on Sustainability Report Card

C+. 

That's the grade that Los Angeles County received from the "2021 Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Ecosystem Health Report Card" prepared by UCLA researchers and students. The report card takes a detailed look at the region's efforts to create a more resilient environment and community for people and wildlife. A healthy and improved ecosystem requires protecting and restoring high-quality habitats and native biodiversity; reducing ecosystem threats like wildfire and invasive species; and ensuring every Angeleno has access to nature and its benefits such as clean water, shade, and respite through policy solutions that address the region’s inequities.

To evaluate the region’s ecosystem health, 18 indicators were assessed across four categories:

• Land Use and Habitat Quality
• Biodiversity
• Threats to Ecosystem Health
• Community Health and Well-being

Many of the indicators are new areas of assessment for the report card and provide a more comprehensive view of current conditions compared to the 2015 Report Card. Grades were assigned in each category based on data availability and accuracy; compliance with regional policy targets, where applicable; and historical improvements. This year’s grades range from C/Incomplete to B.  While there has been great progress in some areas, other areas still require significant improvement to raise the county’s C+ average.