What is a Global Climate Teach-in?
This past week, Kalamazoo College celebrated Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week! Officially held the week of March 23-30, the World Wide Climate Teach-In brings together over 100 universities and 350 organizations from more than 50 countries, focusing on creating Climate and Justice dialogues in K-12 Schools, post-secondary institutions, and environmentally-minded communities across the globe. According to one participating college, the University of Kansas, “a Teach-In model invites researchers, community leaders, students, and faith groups to share space and participate in solutions-oriented discussions with attendees that will drive interdisciplinary perspectives and cultivate actionable solutions for your college and community.”
How does Kalamazoo College participate?
Because the official week fell during our spring break, Kalamazoo College decided to celebrate during Week 4, which coincided with both Earth Day and the Sustainability SIP Symposium. Faculty and staff from K across over 20 classes and programs facilitated discussions about the climate crisis and encouraged environmental justice both on campus and in educational spaces! From German students learning about art and sustainability in Vienna and increasing their ability to discuss these issues in another language, to student filmmakers creating short documentaries focused on climate/environment, to economics courses teaching about current issues and potential policy solutions to climate change, students all across the campus had the opportunity to integrate climate education into their everyday lives. More information on some of this year’s participants can be found here. Thank you to all of the students, faculty, and staff who participated in K’s Worldwide Climate Justice and Education Week!
Looking beyond the Climate Teach-in Week
Although the official event (and K’s unofficial one!) lasts only one week each year, promoting climate education remains important year-round. In fact, climate education is a core pillar of K’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), the framework we use to ensure that sustainability is a core value interwoven with all aspects of campus living. Under the guidance of the CAP, all students are encouraged to engage in climate education in their fields and to understand how to incorporate sustainability into their own lives amid a changing climate.
These goals help guide the environmental work that goes on around campus and beyond. We may have a long way to go towards global sustainability, but the efforts on campus this week are among the most important ways we can contribute to that goal. If you missed the Climate Education Week this year, don’t worry! It’ll be back next year, along with plenty of ways to participate. While it’s up to faculty and staff to design lessons, students are the driving advocates behind increasing awareness, and their voices can help jumpstart the movement by providing much-needed inspiration and drive.
Environmental Stewardship Center
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