PRESS RELEASE: New bill creates California Seal of Climate Literacy to prepare students for climate careers, studies, and leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Becker introduces the State Seal of Climate Literacy Act to create a climate literacy diploma distinction for CA high school students

Sacramento – Senator Josh Becker (SD-13) introduced legislation to create a voluntary climate literacy diploma endorsement program for California high school students. Participating school districts would offer students the opportunity to graduate with a Seal of Climate Literacy on their diplomas, signifying their completion of relevant science and climate literacy coursework and hands-on, experiential learning projects in their communities.

California students are feeling the impacts of climate change in their communities and at school – just this fall semester, they lost 55,000 hours of instructional time due to extreme weather, including wildfires, flooding, and heatwaves. As students feel the impacts of climate change, it is clear they want more climate education – a recent UN study found that 98% of young people surveyed felt climate education should be taught in primary, secondary, and higher education classrooms. The California Seal of Climate Literacy will recognize students who develop the skills to understand climate change and its impacts, to engage their communities with innovative solutions, and to prepare for careers and further study in environmental fields.

“By investing in climate education now, we're building a workforce ready to lead California toward a sustainable future while creating economic opportunity for our young people,” Senator Josh Becker (SD-13) said. “Graduates who attain the Seal of Climate Literacy will gain the knowledge, technical skills, and hands-on experience needed to continue California’s legacy of climate leadership.”

Colorado has already successfully deployed a Seal of Climate Literacy in districts across the state. Similar to California’s legislation, Colorado’s students are required to complete coursework and a hands-on, experiential learning project. In school year 2024-25, students in Colorado completed a range of projects, including implementing more resilient practices on a generational family farm, building composting programs in schools, restoring natural green spaces in the local community, and translating local climate data into Spanish to increase accessibility.

"California's students and families are living through the impacts of climate change — from wildfires to flooding to extreme heat — and they deserve an education that equips them to respond,” said Heather Ippolito, president of the California State PTA. “The California State PTA supports climate and energy literacy that connects classroom learning to real-life situations and empowers students to be part of the solution in their own communities. This legislation does exactly that, and we encourage schools, families, and communities to embrace it."

“My peers and I have all felt the effects of climate change in our schools and our neighborhoods. We know the climate crisis is here – environmental education is the first step towards giving us the skills to mitigate the impacts on our community,” said Eleanor Pilling Chappelear, a fourth-year student at El Cerrito High School and leader of her district’s climate literacy initiative. “A State Seal of Climate Literacy gives us the foundation to pursue careers, studies, and further advocacy in climate.”

"Through our work with young people across California, we see students eager to be leaders in finding solutions to the climate crisis,” said Andra Yeghoian, Chief Innovation Officer at Ten Strands. “A Seal of Climate Literacy serves as a meaningful capstone, recognizing and expanding access to high-quality climate learning already underway. The Seal affirms that work and gives students the opportunity to apply their learning across college, careers, and community leadership."

“Extreme heat, major wildfires, and severe flooding are reshaping the communities where California students live and learn,” said Jonathan Klein, CEO and Co-Founder of UndauntedK12. “Students need more than awareness — they need practical skills and real-world experiences that prepare them for careers in a climate-impacted economy. The Seal of Climate Literacy recognizes students who apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and civic leadership to real challenges in their communities. We’re grateful to Senator Becker for championing a forward-looking approach that prepares California students for the jobs and opportunities of the future.”

Read the full bill text here.

February 13th, 2026

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