The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education introduced the Climate Literacy resolution during its Jan. 25 board meeting. The resolution aims to enact a comprehensive Climate Education Program for LAUSD schools to help resolve the escalating climate crisis.

Board members Scott Schmerelson, George McKenna and Jackie Goldberg co-sponsored the resolution, which is scheduled for a vote at the Feb. 8 board meeting. The resolution originated from the Climate Curricula Committee, which is affiliated with the Los Angeles chapter of former Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project.

“The introduction of the resolution is an excellent first step,” Committee chair Lucy Garcia said. “Passing the resolution at the board meeting on Feb. 8 will allow Los Angeles to join the growing ranks that have already passed important measures to adopt critical climate education in schools, like Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Clara County and New Jersey have done.”

The ultimate goal of the resolution is to establish funding for staffing and training that will allow teachers and students to develop a better understanding about the climate crisis and the skills required to address the issue. The district also wants students to be better prepared to enter industries addressing the climate crisis. The program improves education in schools by integrating climate learning and climate justice into all subject matter from preschool to 12th grade.

Formed in April 2021 by Garcia, a retired LAUSD science teacher, the Climate Curricula Committee includes students, community members, climate communication specialists, teachers and educators. For information, visit laclimatereality.org.