by Abigail Bradford
I didn’t learn the full science of climate change until I majored in that subject at UMaine Orono. We are in a climate emergency, and yet the science behind our rapidly changing climate and what we must do to curb the crisis was largely glossed over in my public K-12 education in Maine.
If we are going to build a healthier, more equitable, and just clean energy future for all Mainers, we cannot leave young minds and hearts out of the solution. Maine students shouldn’t have to go to college, or major in climate science to gain that vital information. Thankfully, there’s a bill this legislative session that would help remedy this problem.
LD 1902 – legislation forwarded by countless youth-led, climate action, social justice, environmental, and education advocacy groups across Maine (see a list below!) – would support equitable access to climate change education by funding professional development for Maine teachers.
The bill has overwhelming support from Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition – a partnership of nearly 40 organizations – which has named this legislation one of its seven priority bills this session.
Now more than ever, it is uniquely challenging to be a teacher. If this bill becomes law, Maine’s educators would be supported with training and funding to include climate education in their curriculum no matter what subject they teach