What Climate Generation Is Doing About the Crisis

 

 

 

At Climate Generation, we believe education is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight the climate crisis; with knowledge we build solutions that are effective and just. Our nonprofit works with youth, educators, and the public. This year, our climate justice education and policy programs teamed up in Minnesota to ignite schools as part of the climate solution. We worked with educators and students around the state to develop leaders in advocacy, co-creation of solutions in their communities, and organizing to defend state energy policy.

Lowering the greenhouse gas emissions of schools is a huge lever for change. Across the U.S., schools spend nearly $8 billion on energy annually — the second-highest school cost after teacher salaries. The 72 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from schools is about the equivalent of 8 million homes. 

Schools also contribute 530,000 tons of food waste a year, and still primarily have a diesel fleet of half a million buses that pollute the air. Yet K-12 climate actions at schools are often left out of state and county climate action plans and discussions, leaving change up to individual champions. 

In the 2024–25 school year, we hosted 12 Minnesota education fellows who wanted to build their confidence and their ability to catalyze climate change and climate justice solutions in their schools. Actions generated reflected each school’s unique spaces. Thanks to these fellowships, these teachers joined colleagues and students in leading letter-writing campaigns, improving recycling and organic programs, embedding climate justice lessons in curriculum, and pursuing solar energy for their school. 

A former Climate Generation intern and delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2023 delivered a presentation to fellows about her student-led campaign that resulted in solar panels being installed on multiple buildings throughout her school district. She indicated that educators were invaluable mentors in the process. 

One educator from  Minneapolis Public Schools was particularly inspired by this story. Her school’s green team had been asking about how to achieve solar energy, but she didn’t think it was possible. She worked with her student-led green team to create educational materials, attend staff meetings, and garner support for Solar for Schools. 

Although they were told no this year — because the building first needs a new roof — they intend to develop an action plan for solar to be considered with the new roof. 

The fellowship supports individual climate justice champions at their schools, yet we also know that systemic change within the legislature supports this work in the long run. The fellowship was hosted throughout most of the Minnesota legislative session, from January through May. 

During this time, the Climate Generation policy team saw the need to defend many progressive laws that were passed in 2023, including the 100% by 2040 Law. The 100% Carbon Free Electricity Law requires all electric utility companies to create electricity from renewable energy sources, so that Minnesota would transition away from fossil fuels as it moves toward its 100% carbon-free goal by 2040. 

The team also saw many attacks on Community Solar Garden programs from legislators seeking to cut the program earlier than its scheduled end date, these programs make solar energy more accessible for residents without requiring them to install panels on their individual homes. The program was passed and received state funding in 2023, but it has not had enough time to flourish. We focused advocacy efforts on defending this work that had been passed by elected officials. 

We will continue to support school-based changemakers who are doing great work. We all must work at a systemic level to support these individuals in the long term. 

B Rosas is policy manager, and Danielle Hefferan is regional MN education coordinator for Climate Generation.

ACTION = CHANGE 

Individual districts can leverage change by committing to address climate change in its missions and plans. Parents, caregivers, and community members can attend school board meetings to ask what the district plans to do. If K-12 infrastructure is missing from community climate action plans, advocate that they be included.

Education is the single strongest predictor of climate-friendly behavior, with direct and indirect effects on improving climate resilience. If you are an educator, talk with your community and learners to consider what solutions you can execute. Join Climate Generation’s Teach Climate Network to be part of a community of educators implementing climate change and climate justice education. Subscribe to Action Alerts for Minnesota policy news.

 

 

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