Schools: What Role do they Play in the Climate Crisis?
Alia O’Brien
The climate crisis is a well known issue facing today’s and future generations. We are all aware of the current state of our climate and the danger it poses to teenager’s today and future generations if our climate continues to change at this rate. The role of big corporations is heavily discussed, as are personal actions. However, one group seems to be left out of the climate change discussion: our schools. Students today spend about 30% of their waking hours in school, if not more. They have a huge presence throughout our country, and house millions of children for 6+ hours a day, 5 days a week. It is clear that schools must play some role in the climate crisis. In fact, school’s role in the climate crisis is significantly more complicated than how much carbon they emit. Schools are responsible for shaping how we think about and view the world, and as such, should be held responsible for educating the future generations about the impact of the climate crisis.
According to a survey done by NPR, more than 80% of parents believe children should be taught about climate change and the impact it has on the world. However, only around 42% of teachers actually cover the climate crisis. That means millions of children are leaving school uneducated on the detrimental effects of the climate crisis, who and what is causing it, and how we can make impactful and meaningful changes within our communities. Discussing the scientific facts behind global warming and the current climate crisis will help to prevent misinformation, and educate students on the reality of the climate crisis. By providing a sufficient understanding of the state of our world today, future generations will grow up with an understanding of exactly what climate change is, the threats it poses to us and our future, and how to combat it at its core. Schools owe it to our generation to educate us on what impacts our future, and the climate crisis is a huge aspect of that. By not providing education on who is causing the climate crisis, why it has been allowed to progress to this stage, and how we can have a role in stopping it, they are failing their students, and in turn, the world.
Additionally, schools are actively playing a role in our changing climate. A study done by the American Federation of Teachers found that schools are often the largest generators of waste within their city, county, and even state. On average, they generate 4.7 pounds of waste per student per day, which adds up incredibly fast. The average high school has about 1,000 kids, which means 4700 pounds of waste per day. The average school year is 180 days, which means on average, schools produce 846,000 pounds of waste per year. There are about 3600 schools in Ohio alone, which means 9,014,000,000 of waste is being generated. Most of this waste is paper. Almost 900 million trees are cut down annually to provide paper for schools and other educational institutions, which wastes energy, oil, and other precious materials. Many universities throughout the US also rely on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are a dangerous, nonrenewable source of energy, and are extremely damaging to the environment. With thousands of universities throughout the US relying on this type of energy, it accumulates to approximately 9.4 tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly. That is equivalent to 20,680 pounds of emissions per year.
Many schools and universities are beginning to institute recycling programs, but it’s not enough. We need our schools and universities to work on divesting from fossil fuels and companies that promote those resources. We also need climate education to be taught in every school: not just about global warming, but about the role capitalism and big corporations play in it, how it affects us, and how we can hope to make a difference. Our schools are responsible for shaping us and preparing us for the future. With the climate crisis in its current state, our future is compromised. We need our schools to take responsibility and do their part so that we can continue to lead the lives they’ve helped us prepare for.
Alia O’Brien (she/her) is a 17 year old senior from Westerville, Ohio. She is the Field Commander for her high school’s marching band, and is involved with her school’s GSA, STEAM club, and Global Scholars program. She has long been an advocate for the food allergy community, most recently through her work with FARE’s Teen Advisory Group and the blog Food Allergic Teens. Alia is so excited to be the co-outreach director of OHYCJ because she loves reaching out and making new connections. She is looking forward to ensuring that citizens and youth throughout Ohio feel heard and involved in fighting for climate justice.
