Albany, N.Y. — High school and college students from New York City and upstate New York called for additional funding and support for climate education in meetings with state legislators. Members of the Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF), an intergenerational coalition of students, educators, NGOs and community members working to expand access to climate education in New York, encouraged lawmakers to advocate for the passage of S2430, sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and its companion A4876, sponsored by State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon. 

The group also asked representatives to support a $536,000 funding request in the legislature’s One House budget and to speak in support of S2430/A4876 in Conference.

The legislation was crafted by CRETF in collaboration with the State Education Department and the funding request was approved by the Board of Regents, which has identified climate literacy as a budgetary and legislative priority. This funding would provide resources for educators to integrate climate education into existing curriculums and support school decarbonization projects that would save schools money. 

“New York State has an opportunity to lead on all aspects of climate action, beginning with education,” said Emily Fano, the National Wildlife Federation’s director of climate resilience education. “Our state’s climate law, the CLCPA, rightly recognizes the need for climate education. These students will be our future leaders, who will ensure we can find solutions to the climate crisis and help meet the state’s emissions goals. Comprehensive, interdisciplinary climate education is critical to making that a reality.

“My generation has already been directly impacted by the devastating effects of climate change,” said Lottie, a high school sophomore from New York City who joined the lobby day. “As extreme weather emergencies are becoming more commonplace, climate education is essential to help young people in every New York neighborhood understand what’s happening and empower them to become advocates in their own communities. I went to Albany to let lawmakers know how important climate education is to me and my peers and to ask them to support it.”

“Whether it's wildfires, hurricanes or punishing heat waves, we're feeling the impacts of climate change more intensely with each passing year," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "With a federal administration that denies the reality of climate change, it's never been more important to ensure our children receive a comprehensive climate education. My proposal ensures New York students have the education they need to meet this moment head on—not only by giving them the knowledge and skills to protect our planet, but also by ensuring they're prepared for the green jobs of the future. I'm grateful for the advocacy of these incredible students, and for the partnership of the Climate & Resilience Education Task Force in fighting for this important legislation."