LETTER: Climate education for all

July 14, 2026 - 04:08

To the editor: Last February, I joined more than 250 high school students from across Massachusetts at the State House for a Youth Climate Advocacy Day. I spent the day talking to my legislators about climate education. Massachusetts is a national leader in environmental policy. We set the bar. I am so grateful to have leaders who listen, but we still have work to do.

Right now, climate change is not a required part of the curriculum for every student in our state. Some schools offer electives or clubs. Others barely touch the topic. That leaves too many young people unprepared for the world they will inherit. We need climate education for all students, not just those who seek it out.

Learning about climate change should not be political. It is about understanding science, reading data, and thinking critically about solutions. It also connects to health, economics, and civic engagement. When students understand the problem, they become part of the solution. They push for clean energy, they vote, and they inspire their families.

I saw that energy at the State House. Students from different towns and backgrounds shared the same message: teach us. We are ready to learn. We are ready to act. Now we need our schools to catch up.