Education

Education Solutions

  • An assessment of needs and opportunities in the Valley’s school districts could be undertaken as part of the planning for a two-year campaign, inviting educators who are active in the field to participate as speakers and to explore opportunities in their own schools.

  • Climate education is a long-range investment, creating a pathway from early childhood onward for education and civic engagement.

Regional Strategy 

As climate change and its impacts grow more visible and at times threatening, a majority of the U.S. public is either concerned or alarmed.  But even in these groups, there is uncertainty about state and federal policy, and about what we can do collectively.  We need education that is sophisticated yet accessible, that connects climate to other issues of concern and is empowering.  Resources and educators abound.  What is missing is a structure for concerted action. 

A network of NGOs engaged in nonpartisan, science-based climate education should develop a highly interactive, 1.5 – 2 year regional education and outreach plan to inform and engage communities – including their school systems - on policy and the many flexible ways of implementing it, with emphasis on the importance of civic engagement,  leadership and change-making as life skills that benefit everyone.  

There is substantial work going on to meet this need.  For example, the Mid-Hudson Teacher Center provides teacher training on tackling the subject of climate change from various perspectives. Climate Reality Leadership Corps currently has a focus on helping school systems to adopt greener practices.National organizations like Rewiring America and Citizens Climate Lobby also have impactful work going on in the region.  These groups should develop and execute a more coordinated strategy for bringing education on climate solutions to K-12 school systems throughout the region without gaps, beginning by working with the most motivated teachers and administrators, with the goal of having some articulate climate spokespeople in most school systems within two years.  This can be part of a larger strategy to raise up well informed and motivated climate action champions in every population center of the Hudson Valley. 

This coalition will offer help to strengthen these efforts.

Who Cares? A Partial List of Stakeholders:

Bard Center for Environmental Policy and Worldwide Teach In for Climate and Justice

https://gps.bard.edu/world-wide-teach-in-2023

Dutchess BOCES Center for Climate and Sustainability Education

https://www.dcboces.org/sustainability 

Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week 

https://www.hvclimatesolutionsweek.org 

Mid-Hudson Teacher Center

https://www.newpaltz.edu/mhtc/