10,545 school buildings • 730 million ft² of buildings • 1.6 million MT of CO2 emissions* per yr
California has clear, ambitious statewide climate goals.
But without leadership and a clear vision, districts risk making scattered, poor investments with current and future resources for school infrastructure.
We are working with advocates, policy makers, state and local leaders to align funding and technical support for healthy, equitable, climate-resilient school infrastructure.
A New Website For the Climate Ready Schools Coalition
We have launched the Climate Ready Schools Coalition website, where you can find more information about our work, our members, and resources regarding climate-resilient schools.
We support CEC’s proposal to align CalSHAPE funding for HVAC replacement with state goals for carbon-neutrality and student health.
We support the proposal that the CalSHAPE HVAC Upgrade and Repair Grants be used for only the installation of zero emission equipment and prioritize funding for schools in underserved and environmental justice communities, near busy roadways, and in communities with poor air quality. In addition, we emphasize our strong agreement with proposal Option 1 which would make HVAC system replacements with gas equipment ineligible for the grant award.
Our Statement on Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 Budget Proposal
California Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a state budget that clearly aims to make hard choices as the state faces its first deficit in years. But the governor’s proposal leaves out two wise investments.
Climate Ready Schools: Our Letter to Governor Newsom
We’ve joined with a statewide coalition to write a letter asking Gov. Newsom to ensure that school infrastructure investments are cost-effective and aligned with California’s climate and equity goals, and to coordinate state, county, and local actions to safeguard children’s health and learning.
UndauntedK12 at the Green California Schools Summit
Our presentation at the Green California Schools Summit previewed the upcoming “Climate-Resilient California Schools: A Call to Action” report and how it can be utilized to advance state policy to support climate ready school infrastructure.
Is your school board climate-ready?
We worked with student leaders to develop a Climate-Ready School Board Toolkit with resources for youth and adult advocates in California to engage with school board candidates in their communities on questions of climate change and school infrastructure readiness.
Our Statement: California must do more for climate-ready schools
We applaud the work that went into the adoption of this year’s budget, but we must move quickly to ensure we are preparing our school buildings, grounds, and students to be climate-ready.
Clean and Healthy Schools are Electric: Our Report with Rewiring America
In “Clean and Healthy Schools are Electric: Aligning California’s School Infrastructure Investments with our Climate and Health Goals,” our new report with Rewiring America and UC Santa Barbara, we make the case for upgrading to all-electric HVAC systems with advanced filtration. This transition can deliver enormous educational and health benefits to California’s students and school staff, all while cutting operating costs.
Climate 100: Clean Energy and Resilient Schools Can Add $5.4B to California’s Climate Budget
In our guest post on NextGen Policy’s Climate 100 blog, we urged California’s lawmakers to align every dollar spent in K-12 infrastructure with building an equitable zero carbon future and ensure that our current actions work towards, and not against, the state’s 2045 goal.
California needs a plan for climate-resilient schools
Extraordinary times also call for extraordinary vision. The development of a statewide Master Plan for Climate Resilient Schools — supported by technical assistance to districts and schools — will ensure that future school infrastructure investment is cost-effective and aligned with California’s climate commitments, Climate Adaptation Strategy, and Extreme Heat Action Plan.
We’re asking Gov. Newsom to commit $25M. Will you join us?
We’re urging Governor Newsom and leaders in California to invest in a renewed and far-sighted vision for how we will ensure every school campus performs its most critical function: providing a safe, healthy, and inspirational space for children to learn without disruption.
Engaging Student Leaders
Thanks to all the young people who joined us at the Ed100 Leadership Academy. We're excited to work together!
Our Comment on California Air Resources Board Draft 2022 Scoping Plan
We submitted a comment on California’s new Scoping Plan for economy-wide decarbonization alongside the California Federation of Teachers, Ten Strands, and Rewiring America. As one of California’s largest sectors of public infrastructure, our statewide climate goals cannot be met without including K-12 schools as part of the solution.
Our Statement on the 2022-23 California Budget
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.
Our Letter of Support for CA SCR 53: Declaration of Climate Emergency
CA SCR 53 is a resolution that would make California only the second state to declare a climate emergency. This resolution was written by youth climate leaders and continues the movement to support youth voices in climate policy. We are proud to offer our support.
Our Statement on Governor Newsom’s May Revise Budget Proposal
After the May revision of the 2022-23 budget and the news of a nearly $100B surplus, we wrote to California’s budget leaders again to encourage them to invest in climate-resilient schools and develop a statewide master plan for climate action in public schools.
Our Response to the 2022-23 Budget
We wrote to California’s budget leaders to urge them to take action in this year’s budget to improve the climate resilience of our school facilities and grounds.
How California leaders can advance climate-resilient schools now
EdSource published “How state leaders can advance climate-resilient schools now”, a commentary UndauntedK12 co-authored with Lisa Patel, a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Climate, Health, and Equity Task Force.
Selected State Policies and Resources
* The carbon emissions we estimate above are related specifically to operating school buildings.