In the classroom, young people should be taught the impact of global warming and how to adapt to climate change. Knowing the facts also helps eliminate fear of an issue that is often covered negatively in public spaces.

In the United States, more than 86% of teachers and 84% of parents support climate change education in schools, Columbia Climate School reports. While progress is being made in some states, on the whole students are not learning enough about climate science to give them the knowledge and tools they will need to cope with the impacts of climate change.

H.Res. 262, Supporting the Teaching of Climate Education in Schools, was written by students themselves, many of whom have firsthand experience with climate disasters. The legislation supports the integration of interdisciplinary, solution-based climate education curricula into K-12 schools in the U.S. and provides schools with funding and support. It would also create an Office of Climate Literacy and Career Development and a Climate Education Task Force in the Department of Education.

“As the demographic with the most to lose to climate change, it would be a massive disservice not to teach students today about the threat of the climate crisis—and to empower them with the education and tools they need to fight it,” said the bill’s sponsor, Representative Barbara Lee (CA). “Solution-focused climate education must be a top priority in schools across the United States.”

Please use our pre-drafted letter to urge your representative to co-sponsor and support H.Res. 262. If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.