Newsletter
Dear ECCLPS Steering Committee and Supporters,
Greetings! We are thankful for the progress UC and CSU have made over the past two years, despite challenges, toward educating 500,000 graduating high school students per year to become literate in environmental and climate change issues and solutions.
ECCLPs Progress
A proposal and executive summary for a joint UC–CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs) Center are in the design phase. Additional versions and appendices that will outline a work plan, a funding plan, structure, and stakeholder engagement are in progress. Check out this one-pager for background details.
Updates from our CSU and UC Colleagues
Marquita Grenot-Scheyer and Fred Uy
In 2021-2022, the CSU continues its commitment to sustainability efforts. I, Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, will be retiring on December 30, 2021, after 33 years of service to the CSU. A search for the new assistant vice chancellor will commence soon and ECCLPs will continue to be a priority. I will remain involved in ECCLPs until the transition is complete.
We thank Susan Belgrad for her support in starting the proposal for the joint center. This year, we are fortunate to have Christine Whitcraft serving in this capacity and finalizing the proposal. The Department of Educator Preparation and Public School Programs continues to sponsor a webinar series focused on the role of educator preparation programs in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
See recent project updates here.
Claudia Martinez and Matt St. Clair
The December 2019 Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit (ECCLPS) spurred the work of several UC-sponsored programs and initiatives addressing environmental and climate justice and equity in K–12 and higher education.
We thank Richard Arum for his continued ECCLPs leadership as a UC Irvine (UCI) professor of education following his five-year term as UCI’s school of education dean, which ends January 1, 2022. The UC continues to sponsor programs and initiatives addressing environmental and climate justice and equity in K–12 and higher education.
See recent project updates here.
Responses to ECCLPS Call to Action
Check out the ongoing responses to the ECCLPS call to action following the December 2019 summit. Feel free to respond with any additions you are aware of.
Related News and Announcements
Columbia University was granted $25 million for a new research center for climate change education initiatives, and teachers college faculty will help develop innovative climate change programming for New York City public schools and higher education learning.
On December 9, the US Department of Education and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are hosting an environmental literacy STEM webinar.
The California Journal of Science Education recently published a special edition article on PK–12 climate change education by V. Ram Ramanathan, Distinguished Professor of Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and former ECCLPS steering committee co-chair.
The Aspen Institute's K12 Climate Action published a new action plan to help the education sector address climate change at the federal, state, and local levels. The report focuses on strategies for mitigation, adaptation, education, and equity.
Ten Strands’ Amy Frame and UCI’s Kelley Le co-led 46 California teachers in Climate Generation’s Summer Institute for Climate Change Education. The three-day institute hosted in partnership with The Wild Center and NOAA’s Climate Office covered new tools, skills and resources to teach climate change in many subject areas.