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BUILDING A CLIMATE READY FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION

How Do You Attain the Seal of Climate Literacy?

Seal of the Secretariat of the Climate of Climate Literacy with stylized leaf design in the center.

The Seal of Climate Literacy is conferred to students who demonstrate an understanding of climate literacy and a commitment to addressing its impacts in their communities. To attain this diploma endorsement, students must complete three elements including a combination of academic courses and an experiential learning project.

  • Students must fulfill the essential academic criteria set by their school district or local education provider (LEP). These requirements typically include completing a specified number of credits across various core subjects.

  • (1) any high school science course such as earth science, biology, or environmental studies, and 

    (2) a second course that includes climate literacy standards. This course could be humanities, concurrent enrollment, CTE, or another science class.

    These courses do not have to be in addition to high school requirements.

  • Students must also complete a project that demonstrates their understanding of climate change. This project can range from an agricultural initiative to advocacy for public policy, and anything in between.

    LEPs can work with students to determine what will qualify.

A group of young girls and a woman are gathered on a wooden balcony surrounded by trees. Some girls are seated at a picnic table with notebooks and supplies, while others are standing and listening to the woman, who appears to be instructing or talking to them. The scene looks like an outdoor summer camp or educational activity.
A group of nine people standing in a garden with sunflowers and other plants, with houses and a community center building in the background. The group includes children and adults, some smiling and dressed casually. One adult is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and holding a baby. The setting appears to be a sunny day in a suburban neighborhood.
Group photo of five people, three young men holding awards and wearing medals, with two adults standing beside them, inside a school hallway with a sign that reads 'Main Office'.
A group of five people, including children and an adult, gathered by a creek in a wooded area, examining the water with a laptop and a sample container.
A woman with blonde hair wearing a striped blazer and a large circular necklace, speaking into a microphone at a presentation or conference, with a window in the background showing trees outside.

Hands-on Learning

Experiential learning projects can vary widely and eligibility is left up to each LEP. Below are some examples of what that may look like for students. 

  • An apprenticeship installing solar panels.

  • A soil management experiment on a student’s family farm.

  • An internship measuring snowpack levels.

  • Student leadership starting a school club or initiative around reducing school energy consumption.

  • A short story, digital film or social campaign around climate literacy principles.

Who Confers the Seal?

This will vary based on the unique policy in each state.

Typically, local education providers (LEPs), which could include a school district, board of cooperative services (BOCES), or a charter school, can voluntarily choose to confer the Seal. This gives them the ultimate flexibility and control over design and implementation.

The LEP may collaborate with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, industry leaders, and institutions of higher education to support students' experiential learning.

State Departments of Education, like in Colorado, support with the reporting component of the policy.

  • The Seal was signed into law in Colorado in 2024, following advocacy by students, educators, district leaders, and community partners. It provides a framework for recognizing student achievement in climate literacy.

  • No. States could also establish it through a Department of Education or State Board of Education.

  • Key elements include:

    • Local Control: Voluntary adoption by Local Education Providers (LEPs).

    • Hands-On Learning: Students complete projects in their own communities.

    • Equity & Accessibility: The Seal minimizes barriers so all students can participate.

    • LEP Flexibility: Local standards and project requirements ensure relevance to each community.

  • No. The Seal fits into your existing courses – science, CTE, social studies, and more – without creating new graduation requirements or adoption of new curriculum.

  • Schools map existing courses to climate literacy principles, guide students through hands-on projects, and award the Seal at graduation. Support is available for every step, making implementation low-lift and achievable.

  • This really varies - superintendents, principals, teachers, district leaders, and students all contribute. It usually starts with one champion. Many districts report that the Seal formalizes work already happening in classrooms and communities.

  • No. Students must complete multiple components: courses covering climate literacy, a hands-on project in their community, and share their results with an authentic audience.

  • No. In its first year, the Seal was conferred in both urban and rural districts, across diverse communities. Strong implementation support ensures access for students historically left out of climate education.

  • The model is designed to be low-cost or budget-neutral, using existing structures to confer the Seal.

  • The Seal signals interdisciplinary climate competency. Colleges and employers in Colorado are increasingly recognizing it for admissions and career readiness, similar to the Seal of Biliteracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Woman in waders and rain gear kneeling on rocks in a river, holding a small bottle and a laptop, with a toolbox nearby, surrounded by trees and natural landscape.
Young woman with a notebook giving a nature educational talk to a group of children outdoors.
Young man standing in a dirt road holding a shovel with a small branch, smiling and looking to the side with trees and clear sky in the background.
Two people planting a small tree in a fenced outdoor area with horses and ponies in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Group of teenagers gathered outdoors in a circle, looking at a phone, with a historic building and trees in the background.
Three people working outdoors on rocky terrain, planting or removing a large stone, with a wooden marker post nearby, under a clear blue sky.
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A city skyline featuring tall skyscrapers, some with glass facades, against a backdrop of mountains and a partly cloudy sky.

The Seal was developed as a way to recognize students who gain an understanding of how climate change impacts their communities and beyond. It helps build a sense of agency, connecting students’ passions and interests about climate change with learning opportunities that can help prepare them for college and careers.

The Seal provides a framework for doing just that.

Let’s talk about how we can make the Seal possible for your students.

Students as Leaders

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