Following the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath has convened an independent commission aimed at guiding the region’s recovery and rebuilding efforts. The commission, composed of leading experts from diverse fields, will provide crucial recommendations for a more resilient and sustainable future for Los Angeles County.
A notable addition to the commission is Fran Pavley, former California state senator and current environmental policy director at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Pavley, who has long been a champion for climate policy and environmental justice, will serve as Vice Chair of the commission, bringing her wealth of experience in state-level environmental legislation and policy reform to this vital effort.
The commission, which includes experts in climate resiliency, disaster response, engineering, urban design, and finance, will focus on rebuilding homes, businesses, and infrastructure that are better prepared to withstand fires and other climate-related shocks. The group’s recommendations will be designed for broad applicability across the county, ensuring a cohesive and region-wide approach to building resilience in the face of future disasters.
UCLA will support the commission as a research partner, providing guidance and expertise through its Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and Luskin Center for Innovation. These UCLA-led initiatives will play a central role in the development of actionable, data-driven recommendations for building a more climate-resilient LA County.
Over the course of the next several months, the commission will draft strategies aimed at rebuilding communities to be more resilient to wildfires and other climate impacts, retrofitting existing infrastructure and homes—particularly in at-risk communities—and catalyzing region-wide climate resiliency measures and investments.
Pavley’s leadership on the commission will be crucial in ensuring that recovery efforts address not only the immediate needs of fire-impacted communities but also long-term climate adaptation goals. Her deep knowledge of environmental policy and commitment to sustainable development will help guide the commission in crafting recommendations that prioritize both resilience and equity.
In addition to Pavley, other experts on the commission include leaders from across various sectors—such as Matt Petersen, CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, and Marty Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Together, this team will help shape the future of Los Angeles as a model for resilient, sustainable urban rebuilding in the wake of climate-related disasters.
The commission will also be heavily focused on community engagement, working closely with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to ensure that its recommendations reflect the needs and priorities of those most affected by the wildfires. Through the involvement of organizations like UCLA and feedback from local communities, the commission aims to deliver a comprehensive, inclusive recovery plan for Los Angeles.
With support from the California Community Foundation, the commission will provide actionable recommendations designed to guide policymakers and other stakeholders in rebuilding Los Angeles County in a way that is more resilient to future natural disasters, while also promoting economic, environmental, and social equity.