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New Climate Literacy Resolution DRAFT 1.1

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Are you trying to pass a climate resolution at your school or district? Have you already passed one? 

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Are you trying to pass a climate resolution at your school or district? Have you already passed one? 

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- Document it!
- Take pictures and videos!
- Tell you story!
- We'd love to hear. Submit your story below👇🏾

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Fremont Ed Board Unanimously Passes Climate Literacy Resolution

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Fremont Ed Board Unanimously Passes Climate Literacy Resolution

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By Sarah Ranney

On Wednesday evening, the Fremont Board of Education voted unanimously to support the student-led Educational Response to the Climate Emergency, based on the Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter Climate Literacy Committee's model resolution.

Led by Fremont students Shreya Ramachandran (Fremont's youth sustainability commissioner), Sriya Bairy, Srilakshmi Varma, and Rishi Gurjar, this is a significant achievement and a step towards ensuring that all Fremont students are equipped with an understanding of the Climate Emergency and what it means for them.

These student leaders adapted the committee's model resolution to reflect the many existing policies and climate literacy programs already present in Fremont. They then worked over the course of six months to gain support from a broad range of community groups, educational institutions and environmental organizations, produced a petition with over 300 supporters, and widely engaged the community. The momentum they generated was seen at Wednesday's board meeting where representatives of these organizations and members of the general public gave oral comment in support of the resolution and several more submitted written comments or wrote directly to the Board.

In passing the Resolution, the Fremont Board of Education commits the Fremont Unified School District to support a school and community wide effort to develop or adopt a pre-existing comprehensive climate change literacy program. To achieve this, the FUSD will review existing education initiatives and sustainability programs to coordinate with the new climate change literacy program, develop an implementation plan, and assist in mobilizing the education community to address the Climate Emergency.

The Sierra Club's letter of support for this resolution states that as climate change represents a mortal threat to all of human society, it is critical that we equip all students with the knowledge and skills they will need to understand and respond effectively to the climate situation in order to shape a sustainable future for generations to come. As stated in the resolution, this means:

the causes of climate change;

its potential for harm;

what is required to avoid significant climate destabilization;

actions needed to ensure a livable future; and

the key people and institutions involved in those actions.

This is an exciting achievement, and the work continues. If you want to get involved in advocating for Climate Literacy plans in your school district or independent school, please check out our Climate Literacy Committee's webpage.
Sarah Ranney is the Chair of the Climate Literacy Committee of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter. Ernesto Pacheco and Scott Lewis were also integral to this effort. Photo courtesy of Frances Denny for The Luupe, theluupe.com

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Fremont Ed Board Unanimously Passes Climate Literacy Resolution

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By Sarah Ranney On Wednesday evening, the Fremont Board of Education voted unanimously to support the student-led Educational Response to the Climate Emergency, based on the Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter Climate Literacy Committee's model resolution.

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Some steps for making and passing a climate resolution at your school

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Some steps for making and passing a climate resolution at your school

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1. Find a motivated teacher or staff member to help
2. Build a coalition of other interested stakeholders (A few students + a teacher + an environmentalist; smaller is better; around five people)
3. Draft initial resolution (include a plan to fund)
4. Send out to stakeholders for feedback
5. Revise and repeat step 4 until folks are happy
6.  Reach out to the school board and their support (edit within reason)
7. Quantify student support through a petition
8. Prepare students and other stakeholders to give public comment (this could be oral or written)
9. Officially approach the board

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How a group of teenagers convinced the Utah legislature to recognize climate change | CNN

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How a group of teenagers convinced the Utah legislature to recognize climate change | CNN

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Piper Christian has yet to vote in her first election, but she's already changing the political landscape in her state.

The 18-year-old from Utah spent two years spearheading a resolution for the state legislature to acknowledge climate change.

After a long journey through the House and Senate, Republican Gov. Gary Herbert officially signed the resolution in March and held a ceremonial signing with the students last week.

The resolution is not a law, but a statement "emphasizing that protection of our environment and investment in our community are not mutually exclusive," in Christian's own words.

The Logan High School senior says she and other students from her school started organizing in 2016 when they learned of an earlier state resolution urging the Environmental Protection Agency to stop regulating carbon emissions.

"Our little high school environmental club got wind of this, and we were really inspired to be more involved politically," she told CNN, referring to the Logan Environmental Action Force.

Taking on the challenge

When the teenagers attempted to introduce their bill to the Senate in 2017, they were denied a hearing by the Natural Resources Committee.

But they didn't give up. The students organized their own unofficial hearing and invited legislators and students of all ages to attend.

"We completely packed one of the biggest conference rooms in the (state) Capitol. It was standing room only," Christian said. "Students from all over the state were able to testify about why climate change is important."

Mishka Banuri, a junior at West High School, was one such student. She was inspired to see the diversity in backgrounds and beliefs of the young people who spoke, and explained to lawmakers why environmental conservation is important to her.

Republican Rep. Becky Edwards also attended. Edwards was so impressed with the students' analysis of the issue that she decided to sponsor their bill.

Although it did not pass that year, she continued working with the teenagers to draft a bipartisan resolution that could pull through in the 2018 session.

Finding common ground

"We were not interested in fighting the battle of 'do you believe in climate change?" Edwards told CNN. "That was less important to us than getting to the point of 'can we all agree that changes are happening?"

Christian and Banuri, along with dozens of their peers, focused on breaking down the issue into how rising temperatures, snowfall and air quality affect Utah residents every day.

They listened to lawmakers who were initially opposed to the bill and added language to represent the concerns of their constituents.

This year, the committee that had rejected the first hearing unanimously passed the resolution.

"I'm hoping that other conservative states, people and students especially see that it is possible to work towards a healthy future and not lose hope," said Banuri.

She believes that if they could find bipartisan solutions in a state like Utah - which has 86 Republicans and 18 Democrats in the legislature, according to their online rosters - then similar measures can be taken in other places.

Both Banuri and Christian will continue advocating for environmental progress in their state and around the country.

"What was critical was that we got the conversation started," said Christian. "I would like to see further legislation, and I would love for young people to be a part of the conversation."

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How a group of teenagers convinced the Utah legislature to recognize climate change | CNN

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Piper Christian has yet to vote in her first election, but she's already changing the political landscape in her state. The 18-year-old from Utah spent two years spearheading a resolution for the state legislature to acknowledge climate change. After a long journey through the House and Senate, Republican Gov.