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ADVANCING CLIMATE LITERACY FOR CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE

A proposed statewide high school diploma distinction recognizing climate-ready graduates and strengthening California’s education and workforce pipeline.

What is the Seal?

The California Seal of Climate Literacy is a proposed voluntary high school diploma and transcript distinction recognizing students who demonstrate strong climate knowledge, systems thinking, and applied problem-solving skills.

Students would earn the Seal through interdisciplinary coursework and real-world projects connected to their local communities—building on climate, environmental, and career-connected learning already happening in California schools.

A young woman with curly blonde hair wearing a green graduation cap and gown, smiling, standing outdoors with trees and a bridge in the background.

HOW IT WORKS IN CALIFORNIA

The Seal is advancing as a proposed policy under the Rising Climate Leaders Act, authored by Senator Josh Becker, during the 2026 legislative session.

Participation would be voluntary and locally controlled. School districts opt in and define coursework and project requirements within a shared statewide framework—keeping implementation flexible, rigorous, and low-cost.

WHO IT’s FOR

Elevate climate learning already happening and support a flexible, statewide framework.

❋ EDUCATORS & SCHOOLS

Advocate for recognition of your climate learning, leadership, and action.

❋ STUDENTS

Advance a voluntary, equity-centered policy that strengthens education and workforce readiness.

❋ POLICY LEADERS

Support a climate-literate talent pipeline aligned with California’s clean economy.

❋ INDUSTRY & EMPLOYERS

A young man in a red plaid shirt and blue gloves holding a shovel at a dairy farm with Holstein cows in the background.

Stacks of bronze medals with ribbons on a green certificate or diploma.

A worker in a hard hat and work apron inspecting solar panels during sunset.

Preparing students for California's climate economy

Climate literacy connects learning to careers across clean energy, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, natural resources, public policy, and technology.

California is home to the largest clean energy workforce in the nation. The Seal provides a clear, statewide signal that students are ready for the climate-driven economy of today and tomorrow.

Map of the United States with states colored to indicate cannabis legalization status: California, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, Maine, and Alaska are in light blue for high potential; 10 states including Texas and Florida are in light green for policy underway; nine states including New York and Michigan are in dark green for enacted.

Part of a national movement

California is joining a growing national effort to recognize climate literacy as a core educational outcome—preparing students for climate-related careers, civic leadership, and community resilience.

CALIFORNIA / NATIONAL PARTNER

UndauntedK12

A national climate policy and advocacy leader in K-12 education. UndauntedK12 advances the Seal across new states by aligning policy expertise, youth voice, and movement-building strategy.

Learn more at: https://www.undauntedk12.org/

CALIFORNIA PARTNER

TEN STRANDS

Include a short blurb about Ten Strands here.

Learn more at: https://tenstrands.org/

NATIONAL PARTNER

LYRA

Originators of the Seal of Climate Literacy and architects of its passage in Colorado. Lyra supports state implementation, resource development, and national strategy—grounded in local context and centered on rural and under-resourced communities.

Learn more at: https://www.lyracolorado.org/

Two young women standing in a theater, smiling, holding certificates and medals.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Help shape the future of climate education in California.

Support the Policy

Request a Briefing

Contact the State Team

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