EARTH DAY
Earth Day Can climate education save our planet? To secure a brighter tomorrow, we must instill in students the knowledge and skills essential for navigating and thriving in an eco-friendly world. This underscores the importance of green muscle memory and implementing climate literacy initiatives in school curricula. This is particularly crucial because, unfortunately, we are not preparing today’s students for the green economy of the future. In the coming decades, the Department of Energy estimates millions of new green jobs will be added to the economy. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for jobs like environmental engineers or wind turbine technicians will continue to increase. It is already estimated that the number of green jobs has increased by 50% since 2019 and will continue to grow. In order to prepare the students of today to lead the green economy of tomorrow, we need to teach them the green skills necessary
for them to succeed today. Society’s shift towards a sustainable future requires a united effort from educational institutions, communities and policymakers. By integrating green education seamlessly into the curriculum, fostering essential green skills, and embracing collaborative solutions, we can empower the next generation to lead the charge towards a more eco-friendly and resilient future. Our students cannot wait any longer for climate education, and neither can our planet. DENNIS NOLASCO Education Coordinator at EARTHDAY.ORG www.earthday.org TURN TO PAGE 84 to read about environmentalism at universities
