Our Statement on the 2022-23 California Budget
June 15, 2022
OAKLAND, CA — UndauntedK12, a national nonprofit supporting climate action for America's K-12 public schools, reacted today to the 2022-23 California Budget:
“California cannot achieve its climate goals without involving schools, which are among the largest public players in facilities, transportation, and energy use,” said Jonathan Klein, UndauntedK12 Co-Founder. “While we’re relieved to see essential spending for school infrastructure, the budget lacks clear direction to involve schools in cutting emissions. If we want schools that will keep generations of kids safe, healthy, and learning, if we are serious about our statewide goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, we need a plan for climate-resilient and carbon neutral schools.”
UndauntedK12’s proposed solutions include:
Ensuring that one-time 2022-23 state education funds for school infrastructure are invested with clear standards and expectations for emissions reduction and resilience to climate-impacts.
Developing a statewide master plan for healthy, equitable, climate-resilient schools buildings and grounds that aligns funding and state support to districts.
Increasing capacity within County Offices of Education to provide technical assistance to LEAs to advance healthy, equitable, climate-resilient school infrastructure.
These steps would help to address crucial climate targets including: the State’s keystone goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, and its Extreme Heat Action Plan.
There is still an opportunity to act.
UndauntedK12 urges state leaders to amend the education budget trailer bill 1) to include language that ensures that one-time General Fund dollars for school construction and maintenance are spent in alignment with the state’s climate and emissions reduction goals, and 2) to fund a master plan for healthy, equitable, and climate-resilient school buildings and grounds and increased technical assistance to districts and schools.
UndauntedK12’s statement in response to the Governor’s revised budget in May can be found here.
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