The Aspen Institute Is Calling for a Systemic Approach to Climate Education at the University Level

The urgency to combat climate change is highlighted by the fact that irreversible damage can occur in only 11 years.
August 17, 2024
People Wearing Backpacks
Photo by Stanley Morales on Pexels

"The Aspen Institute Is Calling for a Systemic Approach to Climate Education at the University Level" originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment.

Summary

  • The urgency to combat climate change is highlighted by the fact that irreversible damage can occur in only 11 years.
  • It is essential for everyone, not just environmentalists, to play a role in advancing climate solutions.
  • Universities are implementing climate-focused operations, research, education, and community engagement to prepare students for the challenges of climate change.
  • Students are increasingly expressing eco-anxiety and a sense of urgency to address the climate crisis.
  • It is crucial for universities to offer interdisciplinary climate education to prepare students across all disciplines for a sustainable future.

Key passage:

This month, This Is Planet Ed released its Higher Ed Climate Action Plan that calls for a systemic approach to climate education at the university level. 

The report lays out a plan for all universities to partake in climate-focused operations, research, education and community engagement. Not only does the action plan push for universities to make their campuses more sustainable, but it calls for students to engage in climate action through education.

Multiple universities, including Arizona State University and University of California San Diego, are requiring students to take climate change courses starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, preparing the students who will soon be part of the nation’s workforce for one of the world’s toughest challenges: solving the climate crisis.

Other institutions, such as ColumbiaHarvard, and Stanford, are taking the climate focus a step further and establishing entire schools devoted to climate. 

Read the full post at Inside Climate News.

Previous Story

Wind and Solar Produced More Energy Than Coal in the U.S. From January Through July This Year, a First

Next Story

Climate This Week: Project 2025