According to the Yale Climate Opinions Map (2021) when asked, “Should schools teach about global warming?” 84% of New Yorkers agreed, and that number is even higher in Westchester County. And the best news is that at present there is a bill in our state legislature (Senate S278A and Assembly A1559A), which supports our educators and students who wish to teach and learn about the causes, impacts and the actions required to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This bill:

• Is the most comprehensive climate education bill ever introduced in New York State and supports an age-appropriate interdisciplinary approach Preschool-12.
• Establishes a timeline for professional learning and educator readiness in line with New York’s decarbonization goals and includes ongoing teacher support, peer exchange and evaluation.
• Develops ‘green’ Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development programs.
• Creates an Office of Climate Education and Workforce Development to serve as a coordinating hub for educators, community members, professional and technical programs, and curricular resources.

Presently, because of the hard work of a small group of advocates (including the authors) from Yorktown100 and CRETF (Climate and Resilience Education Task Force), this Climate Education bill currently has the support of 15 senators and 28 assembly members. Over three hundred educators and community members and over 65 significant organizations have signed memos of support and more are joining every day.

New York, which passed the CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) in 2019 is lagging behind other states at including climate education in our schools, even though it says there is “a recognition of the need for P-12 curricula to include climate change education.”  New Jersey incorporated K-12 climate change education in June 2020. Connecticut joined New Jersey and announced it would require its public schools to teach climate change starting in 2023. California signed a bill for climate education in 2023 to begin in the 2024-2025 school year. And other states are following closely.  It is time to pass S278A/A1559A!

In a recent study of 10,000 young people* 60%, are very or extremely worried that climate change is threatening people and the planet, 63% responded that governments are failing young people and 36% are hesitant to have children. One of the most important things we can do for our young people is to make sure they have the education they need to not only recognize and understand climate change, but also learn how they can contribute to addressing the problem and take control of their future. If you are as concerned as we are please reach out to your local legislators** and let them know you support S278A/A1559A. You can also sign a memo of support by going to the link: ‘CRETF.org/policy‘, then using the link: ‘Toolkit for Action’.
Slide 7 provides the sign up to support this bill.

*Hickman, Marks, Pihkala, Clayton, Lewandowski, Mayall, Wray, Mellor & Van Susteren (2021) Lancet Planetary Health

**Assemblymember Slater,  [email protected]; Assemblymember Levenberg, [email protected]; Senator Harckham, [email protected]

Susan Buck is a retired elementary school teacher who is deeply concerned about our planet and eager to support the next generation, and a member of Yorktown100.

Laura Kosbar is a retired IBM researcher, a member of Yorktown100 and other organizations working to slow climate change.

Yorktown100 is an all-volunteer community-based organization that seeks to reduce global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to net zero urgently and with high priority, through a combination of advocacy, education and campaigns at the local and global levels.
Contact us if you would like to learn more or would like to join. Visit us at yorktown100.cure100.org and help make a difference.