The ECCLPs Executive Committee produced a proposal and executive summary for a joint UC-CSU center focused on climate and environmental justice literacy. Strategies of the proposed joint effort include conducting research to develop evidence-based approaches, enhancing teacher preparation and professional learning programming, and advancing PK-12 school–civic partnerships with community-based organizations. This general proposal is intended to serve as a source document to secure a coalition of support and funding. A joint center is a key recommendation from a broad coalition that attended the inaugural Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit in December 2019.

The UC-CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit showcased a report of recommendations for the university systems to advance PK-12 environmental and climate change literacy by focusing on the preparation of current and future teachers to respond to these urgent issues. To strategize implementation and the scaling of the recommendations, 220 stakeholders participated in the summit with a mission to educate the 400,000+ graduating high school students per year in California to become literate in environmental and climate change issues and solutions.

The Achieving Climate Stability and Environmental Sustainability: PK–12 Education as Part of the Solution for Bending the Curve report provides recommendations for the UC and CSU university systems to advance and scale PK-12 environmental and climate change literacy by focusing on the preparation of current and future teachers to respond to these urgent issues. This report was written by faculty and administrative leaders of education from the UC and CSU systems in partnership with key stakeholders.

This fall, the ECCLPs Executive Committee and the UC Irvine School of Education will be launching initiatives focused on the advancement of PK-12 climate and environmental justice literacy through research, teaching and learning, and community partnerships. Stay tuned for more information.