Preparing for a Changing World: Climate Resilience in Schools

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2023 Issue

By Krystal Kavita Jagoo

The next generation is often thought of as the trailblazers of the future, but what does that mean when the future of our planet looks uncertain in terms of the vast impacts of climate change?

In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report called “Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in the United States,” which looks at the expected effects of the climate crisis on the education and physical development of children. It notes how extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding risks, and an increased prevalence of infectious diseases will reduce learning outcomes and contribute to learning loss for K–12 students.

The document also states that: “Exposures to climate-related stressors can occur in a variety of ways, some of which are distinctive to children, including through outdoor play and at school. Children … have less control over their physical environments, less knowledge about health effects from climate change, and less ability to remove themselves from harm.”

In light of these factors, it is important to not only consider how schools are incorporating environmental literacy in the classroom, but how they are responding to climate change on a practical level as well.

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Krystal Kavita Jagoo, MSW, RSW, is an equity practitioner, educator, and artist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as Prism, Everyday Health, Healthline, and Auto Trader.

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Krystal Kavita Jagoo
Krystal Kavita Jagoo
Krystal Kavita Jagoo, MSW, RSW, is an equity practitioner, educator, and artist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as Prism, Everyday Health, Healthline, and Auto Trader.

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