Earlier this month, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released its Sixth Assessment Report on the latest scientific understanding of climate change, human’s role in it, and present and future implications. The facts were astounding.
Some major points that were covered:
- Climate change is a universal problem and is affecting every country across the world
- Human activity has been the main cause of climate change
- We are far from meeting the Paris agreement targets of less than 1.5-2°C of warming
- An increase in global temperatures will cause detrimental effects on our climate
- There is an immediate need to reduce emissions and reaching net zero carbon emissions
The climate crisis is no longer about avoiding the effects of climate change, it’s about mitigating the environmental damage and human suffering that will follow. We need individuals in all industries and sectors to approach their work and everyday lives through an environmental lens and this will require a much deeper understanding of how natural and human systems interact. We need to rethink our siloed approach to education and integrate environmental education across all core subjects and disciplines in K-12 and higher ed.
We must advance environmental literacy for all. Our future depends on our ability to protect our environment. We’ve left our youth with a crisis, let’s at least provide them with the 21st-century skills needed to solve it. Join us as we advance environmental literacy, raise awareness of the climate crisis, and equip students in K-12 with the knowledge and tools to act as Green Guardians!
For an easy to navigate summary of the report and its findings check out Andra Yegohian’s brief overview here.
Relevant Links
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report for Educational Leaders
Despite the serious implications of [the report] findings, the K-12 education sector has a great opportunity to be a part of the most important teachable moment humanity has ever experienced: surviving and thriving in the climate era.
CAELI Community-based Partner Hub
The Hub promotes environmental literacy by building educator awareness of environmental education community-based partners and their products and services and fosters educator-partner relationships for increased student enrichment and engagement.
Bananas about Bananas Lesson Series Kit
Grades K-1: Through readings, activities, and discussions, students trace the journey of a banana from farm to home and beyond, consider its environmental impact, and envision a greener journey.
My Journey to Zero Waste Lesson Series Kit
Grades K-1: Through readings, activities, and discussions, students compare and contrast two birthday parties (one that generated a lot of waste and one planned around “zero waste”), consider the environmental impact of one’s personal waste, gain an understanding of the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and learn to practice zero waste in their own lives.
Youth Climate Action Organizations
Check out the top youth organizations fighting for climate action and promoting environmental literacy!
Download and share the 15 Actions for Green Living checklist!
News and Events
CalNat Coastal Institute at Camp Ocean Pines immersion course
Aug. 22, 2021 California Naturalist
This residential immersion program includes seven days of field trips and lectures from enthusiastic leaders with decades of experience in the field.
Marine Naturalist Teachers’ Program
Aug. 23-27, 2021 The Whale Museum
This is a dynamic and high-quality virtual program for K-12 teachers with the objective of providing a learning experience that enhances your knowledge and classroom lessons.
Webinar: Building on Student and Community Assets to Achieve Equity in STEM Education
Aug. 25, 2021 STEMscopes
This interactive webinar will engage participants in a discussion about the inequities observed in our STEM classrooms and how we can address contemporary issues of inequity through collaboration with school leaders, parents, and the community to “build back better.”
11 Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2021
Aug. 05, 2021 Earth.org
The climate crisis is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and we are not ready for it. While the crisis has many factors that play a role in its exacerbation, there are some that warrant more attention than others. Here are some of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime.
Green-Books.org Promotes Environmental Education in Schools Across Indonesia
Aug. 06, 2021 Fair Planet
Green-Books.org is an educational project that introduces environmental topics in schools across the Indonesian archipelago. It does so through the work of environmental and educational experts who create interactive activities for children and teach them how to protect nature.
Monday’s IPCC report is a really big deal for climate change. So what is it? And why should we trust it?
Aug. 06, 2021 The Conversation
On Monday, an extremely important report on the physical science of climate change will be released to the world. Produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the report will give world leaders the most up-to-date information about climate change.
OPINION: Indigenous knowledge is essential to solving the climate crisis
Aug. 09, 2021 Thomson Reuters Foundation News
This year we have seen the deadly impacts of climate change hit places that were not prepared: historic raging wildfires and megadroughts in the Western United States, heatwaves in Canada, floods in Germany and China, hurricanes in the Caribbean.
