Youth Opinion: California schools are too hot. We need help from state leaders.
“From our classrooms to our fields and playgrounds, California schools are woefully unequipped to meet our new climate reality” writes Folsom High School freshmen Karthik Meyyappan in his March 23 Sacramento Bee op-ed, “California schools are too hot. We need help from state leaders.”
A graduate of the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program Cohort 3, Karthik shares firsthand what it’s like to attend school in the era of extreme heat, from early morning cross-country practices to overheated classrooms. He calls on California leaders to invest in climate-resilient schools and release existing funding from the CalSHAPE program to support school district investments in modern HVAC systems to protect students from the health impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke.
Karthik is one of many young people across the state stepping up to advocate for safer, healthier school environments. Through CYCP, a joint initiative of UndauntedK12, Ten Strands, and the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter, high school students like Karthik are learning how to turn their lived experience into policy advocacy. From pushing for solar-powered schools to educating their peers on sustainability, these student leaders are helping shape the future of California’s public schools.
We’re proud to support youth voices like Karthik’s and encourage you to read his full op-ed. California students are paying the price for climate inaction, and they’re demanding bold leadership in return.
