Climate change is a pressing issue that affects everyone, from young children playing in their homes to college students preparing to enter the workforce. In 2019, Laura Schifter received a message on her phone stating that there were only 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage from climate change. This message served as a wake-up call for Schifter, a mother of three, who realized that she needed to take action to secure a better future for her children.
As a senior fellow with the Aspen Institute’s This Is Planet Ed program, Schifter is dedicated to spreading awareness about climate change and empowering children and young adults with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a changing climate. Recently, This Is Planet Ed released its Higher Ed Climate Action Plan, which calls for a systemic approach to climate education at the university level. The plan outlines strategies for universities to incorporate climate-focused operations, research, education, and community engagement into their curriculum.
Several universities, including Arizona State University and University of California San Diego, have already started implementing climate change courses as part of their general education requirements. By requiring students to learn about climate change, these institutions are preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle one of the world’s toughest challenges.
In addition to offering climate change courses, some universities are taking a more comprehensive approach by establishing entire schools devoted to climate studies. For example, Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford have all created specialized programs to address climate-related issues. These institutions are also turning their campuses into living laboratories, where students can study and test new sustainable solutions.
Despite the growing emphasis on climate education, many faculty and students have yet to fully grasp the interdisciplinary nature of climate change. Climate change affects all industries, from business to medicine to engineering, making it crucial for students of all disciplines to understand its implications. By integrating climate education into general education requirements, universities are creating opportunities for students to explore how climate change intersects with their own interests and fields of study.
The Aspen Institute’s action plan aims to make sustainability a core component of every student’s education. By teaching students about climate change within the context of their chosen field, universities are preparing them to address the challenges of a changing climate in their future careers. As Schifter emphasizes, everyone has a role to play in combating the climate crisis, whether they are a student, an educator, or a business person.
In conclusion, climate education is essential for preparing the next generation to address the challenges of a changing climate. By integrating climate change courses into university curricula and emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of climate studies, institutions are equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to create a more sustainable future. As public opinion surveys show, young people are deeply concerned about the climate crisis, and it is up to educators and institutions to empower them to take action.
