Cultivating Awareness
The primary goal of the training is simple yet vital: to cultivate an informed community at UMass that understands the basics of climate change, its impacts, and opportunities for action and change. SES is at the forefront of this effort, collaborating with a diverse group of partners to bring this initiative to life.
A Collaborative Effort
Our team is made up of experts in pedagogy, sustainability, climate science, social justice, and movement building. Student learning is at the heart of this project, with both undergraduate and graduate students taking leadership roles on our design team. The training will be shaped by the expertise and input from our university’s subject-matter experts.
Partners & History
The Climate Literacy Program at UMass is in development and in collaboration with many current and previous partners, including but not limited to: UMass School of Earth & Sustainability, the Office of Assessment, Survey, and Effectiveness Research (ASER), UMass Libraries, Clean Energy Extension, Auxiliary Enterprises, Sustainability Sciences Program, iCons Program, Facilities & Campus Services Sustainability, UMass Amherst Foundation, Office of Research Development, the former UMass Carbon Zero advisory board members and working groups, Native Advisory Council, SGA Sustainability, the Graduate Student Senate, many student RSOs, including UMass Sunrise Movement chapter, and the former Sustainability Strategy Working Group (SSWG). It is the major acadedmic initiative that grew out of UMass Carbon Zero.
Our UMass experience draws on the wisdom and lessons learned of other programs offered at peer institutions, including University of Queensland, University of Cambridge, University of Bath, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Nottingham Trent University. Each offers a version of the UK-based Carbon Literacy Project. In spring 2022 when we conducted an assessment, there were not any climate literacy programs at US-based peer institutions.
Join the movement
UMass students are working with SES to pilot the training program this academic year (2024-2025) with plans to adapt the experience and potentially offer it to an expanded student communities and undergraduate programs in AY2025-2026, pending resources. We encourage you to stay informed by following our SES Communications, where you'll find updates on our progress and opportunities to get involved later this semester.