Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado. Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash.
Colorado's Senate Bill 14, which would authorize local school districts to grant a high school diploma endorsement in climate literacy, was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on May 23, 2024. The seal of climate literacy would be granted "to graduating students who demonstrate mastery in climate literacy and attain green skills or technical green skills."
Climate literacy is defined in the new law as "an understanding of the essential principles of the earth's climate system, assessing scientifically credible climate information, learning to communicate about the climate in a meaningful manner, and making informed and responsible decisions regarding actions that may affect the climate."
Support for the bill was spearheaded by "a network of high school sustainability clubs that call themselves Good Trouble," according to the Durango Herald (May 13, 2024). High school senior Aisha O'Neill, who organized the Good Trouble network, commented, "[W]e all have a power and responsibility to make an impact on environmental legislation."
