Too Little Too Late?

Dear Partners is Green,

When it comes to Climate Change, which we know is due in a large part to human activity, and which we know threatens life on Earth, you would think that it would be a subject included in school curriculums throughout the United States. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

New Jersey was the first state in 2020 to require Climate Change instruction across all grade levels (K-12).

And not until March 2026 did New York approve a statewide mandate requiring (K-12) climate education, addressing the causes, the impacts, and solutions to the crisis. It is to begin for grades 5-12 in 2027-2028 and grades K-4 in 2028.

Connecticut, Oregon and New Jersey are due to roll out programs soon.

Too little too late?

Where would we be now if we had heeded the warnings of Al Gore in 2007, and then Bill McKibben who in 2008 founded 350.org., 350 being the parts per million which scientists identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to avoid severe Climate Change. We are now at approximate 426.93!

It is essential that students learn the truth about Climate Change, but that, unfortunately, is not always the case. For example in Florida, and it is likely in other states, textbooks on Climate Change have been altered in an attempt to reduce the seriousness of the issue, and thus to minimize the sense of urgency with which it needs to be addressed. In fact, the words “Climate Change” were never mentioned in the altered texts.

For example, according to The Hechinger Report, which covers innovation and inequality in education, Florida altered a marine biology text for its high school marine biology students. Instead of reading that Climate Change is killing at least 150,000 per year, their texts have been altered to read “changes in the environment,” and instead of reading the projected death toll, they are taught that “human health is being affected by the increase in CO2.” Also eliminated was a reference to students at the University of Washington in Seattle voting to pay higher fees to help the school buy electricity from renewable resources. *

Still most children already know about global warming, they need know that we are being honest with them, that addressing Climate Change is a priority, that we care about their future.

Education is essential. Young people deserve to be “educated, motivated and empowered,” to borrow from a new network titled Climate without Borders.

So what can we do for our young people? First, we can have a conversation and listen for their concerns.

We can learn how our local schools are addressing Climate Change.

We can lead the young people to resources introducing them to how students throughout the world are making a difference. The United Nations is a good place to start.

We can show them that we care about their futures by setting an example: by reducing, re-using, recycling, and by volunteering and supporting environmentally focused organizations.

And, of course, don’t forget to:

Take a nature walk Plant a tree
Vote
Shop thoughtfully
Reduce or eliminate meat consumption
Reduce travel
Avoid plastic produce bags
Listen for children’s concerns
and share what you are doing with the young people in your lives.

And now from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
-----
Teach Your Children Well ?

You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

-----

Wishing peace and health to you and your loved ones.

Thank you for being on this journey.

Till next time, Beth

*
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/education-key-addressing-climate-change