Climate Education & Youth Advocacy: Presentation by Sena Wazer

1. C L I M AT E E D U C AT I O N
& Y O U T H A DV O C A C Y
S E N A W A Z E R
J U N E 0 5 , 2 0 2 3

2. H E L L O !
I've been involved with
environmental
advocacy for most of
my life...
And climate advocacy specifically
since 2018, when I was 14...

3. • 20 US states received a C or lower
for their climate education (NCSE,
2020)
• 60% of youth feeling worried or
extremely worried about climate
change (Nature, 2021)
C L I M AT E E D U C AT I O N I S N O T
B E I N G TA U G H T I N U S S C H O O L S

4. To equip youth with knowledge
about a crisis they are unfairly
inheriting.
To create a structured space
for youth to learn about climate
change.
To empower youth to take
action to combat climate
change.
To provide youth with the
opportunity to think about and
explore careers in climate change
related fields.
To raise awarness about climate
change more generally, young
people are incredible
communicators, especially with
their parents.
C L I M AT E E D U C AT I O N I S
I M P O R TA N T. . . .

5. P R O G R E S S A C R O S S
T H E N AT I O N
Has the most comprehensive climate
education in the nation. It's included in
most subject areas and is required K-12.
New Jersey
Has had bills requiring climate
education get introduced multiple years
in a row. This year's bill has not made it
out of the education committee.
New York
Has a bill currently in the education
committee with recent action.
California
Current budget includes funding for
climate education, during service
learning. There has also been a lot of
student advocacy on the issue.
Massachusets

6. Y O U N G P E O P L E A R E L E A D I N G T H I S W O R K

7. • We have to fight for the bill to even be raised in committee.
• We survey students to prove that climate change was not currently being
taught.
• Huge show of student support at the public hearing.
• Covid starts and everything is put on pause.
2020
• The bill gets to the house floor and
then it's filibustered.
2019
H OW C O N N E C T I C U T PA S S E D C L I M AT E E D U C AT I O N

8. • Fought to have it raised in committee
• Mobilized over 50 young people to write in with public testimony and/or
testify at the hearing.
• Got added to the state budget
• The bill was passed!
2022
• Referred to the education committee but
didn't even receive a public hearing.
2021
H OW C O N N E C T I C U T PA S S E D C L I M AT E E D U C AT I O N

9. Y O U N G P E O P L E
M U S T L E A D
• We are experiencing our
education or lack therof
• We have an urgency and
moral clarity that is needed
• Social movements require
young people to win

10. E-mail sena.wazer@gmail.com
IG @senawazer
LinkedIn @Sena Wazer
T H A N K Y O U !