We are driven by a passion for education and by a belief that we can accomplish more in genuine partnership with educators, teachers, researchers, and community partners. We believe that excellence is achieved through diverse, equitable, strategic and action-focused climate education delivered in meaningful and culturally relevant ways.
Background
In October 2018, the UC and CSU systems partnered with key stakeholders with the goal for all of California’s high school students to be literate in environmental and climate change issues and solutions. Strategies and recommendations for the university systems were published in a report that was showcased at the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit (ECCLPS, pronounced "eclipse") at UCLA in December 2019.
Marcelo Suárez-Orozco moderates a panel including: Emily Carter, Vincent Del Casino Jr., Janet Napolitano, and Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis.
Miztlayolxochitl Aguilera provides a welcome and land acknowledgment.
Roundtable discussions.
Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan moderates a panel including: Kate Gordon, Marcia McNutt, Enid Partika, and Peter Rivera.
Kavita Gupta shares her perspective and approach to climate change education.
CSU Channel Islands Performing Arts presents with video, song, dance, and poetry.
UCLA Lab School students give a musical performance.
Marquita Grenot-Scheyer offers closing remarks.
Karen Cowe speaks about integration of environmental topics into K–12 curriculum.
In March 2020, members of the steering committee met to prioritize and advance key recommendations in the report. Work slowed during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, but the executive committee was able to develop a concept paper proposing joint UC–CSU center to focus on PK–12 climate and environmental justice literacy.
In September 2022, UC Irvine hosted an event to relaunch ECCLPs, made possible with generous support of UC Irvine’s friend and partner, Stacey Nicholas of Captain Enterprises LLC and a UCI Foundation Trustee. The funding allows Inaugural ECCLPs Executive Director Dr. Kelley Lê to launch initiatives that will leverage institutional resources and many partner relationships to greatly enhance support for statewide teacher preparation programs and PK–12 educators ensuring that students and school communities become better prepared to address the environmental challenges, solutions, and inequities associated with worsening climate change.
The next generation, today’s students, need to be prepared to achieve a more just and sustainable planet. We envision initiatives that will prepare educators to support students through deep learning experiences centered on climate and environmental justice literacy and culturally relevant community action throughout California.