Newsletter
Dear ECCLPS Steering Committee and Supporters,
Greetings! We’re excited to share progress that the ECCLPs Executive Committee has made over the last six months toward educating all of California’s PK-12 students to be environmentally and climate change literate by focusing on teacher preparation.
ECCLPs Progress
A proposal and executive summary for a joint UC-CSU center focused on achieving sustainability through PK-12 climate and environmental justice literacy has been finalized. Conversations around operationalizing this joint effort are now focused on work plans, funding, organizational structure and stakeholder engagement.
Updates from our CSU and UC Colleagues
Fred Uy and Tamara Wallace
We welcome Tamara Wallace to the ECCLPs Executive Committee. Tamara is the systemwide Sustainability Programs Manager in the Department of Energy, Sustainability and Transportation at the CSU Chancellor’s Office (CSUCO).
Tamara and Leslie Ponciano, systemwide Director of Research Opportunities at the CSUCO, are the co-founding co-editors of the recently published inaugural issue of the new CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change, a platform for all voices in sustainability and climate change research that emphasizes inclusivity and diversity. In partnership with CSU campuses for peer review, Volume 1 showcases published research from CSU students, faculty and staff on advocacy for climate justice in curriculum, intergenerational climate justice, impacts of Fresno State student-led sustainability efforts, and more. All authors are welcome to submit articles for Volume 2 and beyond. Questions can be directed to Tamara.
See additional updates here.
Claudia Martinez and Matt St. Clair
We welcome Jeff Share to the ECCLPs Executive Committee. Jeff is a well-published education lecturer at UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies.
The UC continues to sponsor programs and initiatives addressing environmental and climate justice and equity in K-12 and higher education. In April, the recently launched UC Center for Climate Justice hosted a workshop on effective communication of the climate and biodiversity crisis to engage everyone to be active agents of change. The center is currently developing a climate justice course that builds on the Bending the Curve online course.
See additional updates here.
Responses to ECCLPS Call to Action
Check out the ongoing progress on the ECCLPS call to action responses following the December 2019 summit. Feel free to respond with any additions.
Related News and Announcements
AB 1913 (Bryan) is a bill that would appropriate $5 million for climate change education for higher education teachers by establishing the California Center for Climate Change Education as part of the Los Angeles Community College District, to be located at West Los Angeles College. The center would focus on partnerships and the creation of educational resources about climate change, equity and environmental justice issues.
Stanford University is launching a new school of sustainability this fall that will focus on cultivating deep knowledge and high-impact solutions to climate change.
Ten Strands and the Sierra Club partnered on a budget request calling for sufficient climate change education investment for all California students. State Sen. Dave Cortese and Assemblymember Luz Rivas are leading the effort with six senators, and more than 130 organizations and 150 individuals have signed on with their support.
AB 1939 (Rivas) is a bill that prioritizes climate change education by making it a course requirement for grades 1-12. AB 1939 passed through the state assembly and, if it passes through the senate, it would ensure all students understand the causes and effects of climate change and ways to mitigate and adapt to these changes. This incremental move elevates climate change education in science teaching and learning and is supportive of the budget request above.