K-12 Education Systems and Climate Change

The effects of climate change are increasingly visible across all aspects of society. This course will explore the intersection of K-12 education systems and climate change. We will study the risks that rising temperatures and sea levels as well as extreme weather events pose to schools and learning. We will examine what schools teach students about climate science and environmental stewardship. Much of the class will focus on case studies of school systems addressing climate change through a range of initiatives such as developing environmental education curriculum, investing in clean-energy infrastructure, launching community-based demonstration projects, and preparing students for the new green economy. Students will develop skills in reading, critiquing, and synthesizing academic research as well as generating evidence-based policy recommendations. We will take an applied, solutions-oriented approach to grappling with the concrete challenges schools face in advancing these efforts.