Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing humanity, and it is only getting worse. To protect the future of all living things, we need to take collective action. Scientists and policymakers must implement a systemic response to the immediate needs, but it’s also imperative that educators equip young people to tackle the crisis.

The good news: It won’t be difficult to inspire young people to step up to the task. They are already on the frontlines of climate change activism. Now, it is critical that American education systems improve climate change education so that young people have the knowledge and skills to prevent and mitigate the long-term effects of climate change.

The question is how.

This week, FHI 360 released a report outlining four evidence-based recommendations for ensuring that all young Americans have access to the high-quality education they need to lead the way on climate action. It is up to policymakers, educators, funders, and nongovernmental and grassroots organizations to determine how best to achieve them.

  1. Promote support for climate change education at national, state, district and school levels.
  2. Provide access to high-quality curricula and materials that are grounded in scientific evidence.
  3. Support educators with training and professional development.
  4. Scale up interdisciplinary and out-of-school time models.

Read the full article about climate education by Liza Rodler and Rachel Renbarger at degrees.