Today's schoolchildren will face climate decisions we could never imagine - will they be prepared to act?
CALL TO ACTION: Support the Climate Literacy Act!
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As a leader in Rhode Island environmental education, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island places great effort into teaching children about the importance of a clean and healthy environment, as well as the causes and impacts of climate change. Audubon reaches nearly 12,000 children each year, in almost every school district of the state, through our school day and afterschool programming.
State leaders have made significant investments to address the ongoing impacts of our changing climate, including those set forth in the Act on Climate, which sets mandatory, enforceable climate emissions reduction goals leading the state to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.
The Climate Literacy Act was developed in response to these statewide initiatives so that our future generations will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to uphold these commitments and protect our environment.
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The Climate Literacy Act would require the state Department of Education, along with dedicated members of the education community, to develop a set of environmental, climate, and sustainability principles to be integrated into learning standards.
Passing this legislation is the first step towards ensuring that upon graduation from high school, all Rhode Island students attending public schools (or other schools managed and controlled by the state) are prepared to embrace our growing green and blue economies, take action towards addressing environmental challenges, and be civically engaged with climate and environmental policies.
Climate change education is supported by the majority of Rhode Island parents and teachers. Outlined in detail in the bill (S-2039 / H-7275), the next steps include:
2022: Pass the Climate Literacy Act! << we need your help!
2023: Develop key environmental, climate, and sustainability principles and concepts.
2023: Establish green awards programs to recognize high-performing schools and teachers.
2024: Disseminate lessons and activities related to climate change and green career paths.
2025: Review and highlight the key principles and concepts in the current learning standards.
2026: Ensure RIDE teacher professional development includes key principles and concepts.
How You Can Help:
- Contact Governor McKee (governor@governor.ri.gov) and your own legislators (look up and then find contact info for your senator and your representative) to encourage them to support the 2022 Climate Literacy Act, S-2039 by Senator Valarie Lawson and H-7275 by Representative Terri Cortvriend.
- Sign your organization onto the letter of support.
- Join the RIEEA Google group for updates.
To learn more, visit http://rieea.org/2022-climate-literacy-act/ or contact the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association at info@rieea.org or at 401-569-8758.
SAMPLE EMAIL
Dear [YOUR REP/SEN HERE],
The impacts of climate change are already being felt in Rhode Island, and those impacts will only become more severe in the years to come. However, there is currently no requirement when it comes to climate education in Rhode Island.
The Climate Literacy Act (H 7275 / S 2039) would require the state Department of Education, along with dedicated members of the education community, to develop a set of environmental, climate, and sustainability principles to be integrated into learning standards.
Passing this legislation is the first step towards ensuring that upon graduation from high school, all Rhode Island students attending public schools (or other schools managed and controlled by the state) are prepared to embrace our growing green and blue economies, take action towards addressing environmental challenges, and be civically engaged with climate and environmental policies.
Please support the Climate Literacy Act (H 7275 / S 2039). Thank you.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME & ADDRESS]
Thank you for your support!
Priscilla De La Cruz, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Lauren Parmelee, Senior Director of Education
