Building Climate Literacy Through Educational Partnerships

The National Climate Assessment (NCA), a scientific document written for the lay-audience, is an ideal opportunity to engage the educational community in sector and regional discussions of climate change impacts and predictions.  Through a collaboration between federal and non-profit educational organizations, the NCA education affinity group engaged the climate education community through CLEAN, the Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network, and developed “Learning Pathways” for educators designed to help them align lesson plans, and access high quality activities, videos, simulations and even science standards with the regional sections of the NCA. Through this collaboration, the educational community was able to bring added value to the report, engage both formal and informal educators and use the release of the report as a teachable moment.