New legislation supporting climate change education in New York

New York City skyline.

Three bills aimed at supporting climate change education were introduced in the New York state legislature in January 2025.

Senate Bill 2430 would, if enacted, require every public school to provide instruction on climate change aligned with state learning standards, which may be provided through interdisciplinary instruction where appropriate. The bill would also require the department of education to provide guidance and resources for educators, including professional learning opportunities, in order to assist them in providing such instruction. The bill was introduced by Andrew Gounardes (D-District 26) and 19 of his colleagues in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Assembly Bill 1666 would, if enacted, establish a climate change education grant program "to award grants to eligible applicants to support climate change education grant programs for young people or to provide optional teacher training or professional development programs relevant to the advance of climate change literacy in young people." The bill is identical to Assembly Bill 1866 from the 2023-2024 legislation session, which died in committee. The bill was introduced by Linda B. Rosenthal (D-District 67) and Rebecca A. Seawright (D-District 76) and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education.

Assembly Bill 1984 would, if enacted, require the state commissioner of education to "create and establish a comprehensive and accurate climate change and sustainability curriculum which shall be taught in grades kindergarten through twelve in all public and charter schools"; local school boards could adopt the curriculum or develop their own, which would have to fulfill the same requirements. The bill is identical to Assembly Bill 851 from the 2023-2024 legislative session, which died in committee. The bill was introduced by Linda B. Rosenthal (D-District 67) and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education.

When the 2023-2024 session of the New York legislature ended, no fewer than seven climate change education bills died in committee, as NCSE previously reported.

Glenn Branch
Short Bio

Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of NCSE.

branch@ncse.ngo