Climate Action for Students
There are so many ways that you can dedicate your spare time, or even your life to fighting climate change and better yet, there are millions of students around the world already doing just that.
Why is this important?
With the leaders of today failing to recognize the severity of the climate crisis and act accordingly it's up to future generations to step up and fight for our climate.
As a young person, the climate crisis will play a huge role in the course of your life. It's so important to get involved.
Key Actions
Get educated
It is important to learn more about the extent of the crisis, its causes, and some of the potential ways we can hope to address it. That way you will be more informed when talking to friends, family, or others about climate change.
Action:
Take a climate change class at your college if they are offered!
Consider becoming a Climate Reality Leader by undertaking this course that will go over many of the basics of climate change, and prepare you for getting more involved.
Check out Climate-Science’s collection of short crash courses on topics ranging from causes of climate change to climate predictions and clean energy.
Sign up for a newsletter from groups like 350 or Carbon Brief to stay up to date on climate news.
And finally, for more information on how to speak up once educated, make sure to check out You Change Earth’s Use Your Voice guide
Get educated
It is important to learn more about the extent of the crisis, its causes, and some of the potential ways we can hope to address it. That way you will be more informed when talking to friends, family, or others about climate change.
Action:
Take a climate change class at your college if they are offered!
Consider becoming a Climate Reality Leader by undertaking this course that will go over many of the basics of climate change, and prepare you for getting more involved.
Check out Climate-Science’s collection of short crash courses on topics ranging from causes of climate change to climate predictions and clean energy.
Sign up for a newsletter from groups like 350 or Carbon Brief to stay up to date on climate news.
And finally, for more information on how to speak up once educated, make sure to check out You Change Earth’s Use Your Voice guide
Fight for systematic change
Here's how to fight for the climate in the political arena and be part of an international movement.
Action:
Sign up with organizations like the Sunrise Movement (phone banking, local chapters) or Citizens Climate Lobby (local chapters, resources to contact representatives).
Coordinate with hundreds of other students working on climate issues in the College Climate Coalition Slack.
Check out You Change Earth’s Join a Climate Movement and Influence Your Government guides for more.
Fight for systematic change
Here's how to fight for the climate in the political arena and be part of an international movement.
Action:
Sign up with organizations like the Sunrise Movement (phone banking, local chapters) or Citizens Climate Lobby (local chapters, resources to contact representatives).
Coordinate with hundreds of other students working on climate issues in the College Climate Coalition Slack.
Check out You Change Earth’s Join a Climate Movement and Influence Your Government guides for more.
Look for internships or jobs that positively impact the climate
The most impactful thing you can do is to use your talents and skills in a role that actively fights climate change. And good news, climate and sustainability jobs have fantastic growth prospects.
Action:
Check out Climatebase for listings of full-time jobs or internships at organizations working to solve the climate crisis.
Read this Sustainable Career guide, which lists a multitude of organizations and platforms to use in your search for a job or internship.
If you’re pursuing a different career path make sure to research your employer’s environmental track record on your own or using CDP’s grades if available.
Check out You Change Earth’s extensive Climate Career guide for more in-depth info.
Look for internships or jobs that positively impact the climate
The most impactful thing you can do is to use your talents and skills in a role that actively fights climate change. And good news, climate and sustainability jobs have fantastic growth prospects.
Action:
Check out Climatebase for listings of full-time jobs or internships at organizations working to solve the climate crisis.
Read this Sustainable Career guide, which lists a multitude of organizations and platforms to use in your search for a job or internship.
If you’re pursuing a different career path make sure to research your employer’s environmental track record on your own or using CDP’s grades if available.
Check out You Change Earth’s extensive Climate Career guide for more in-depth info.
To Consider
Pressure your school to divest
Action:
Use Divest Ed’s map to see if your campus has divested, has an active divestment campaign, or needs one to be founded.
Check out Fossil Free’s booklet on how to start a divestment campaign on campus, and these resources which include a media toolkit, a graphic design kit, and video content to aid your campaign.
Read Environmentalist Bill Mckibben’s thoughts on the success and future of the divestment movement.
Prospective students, alumni (parents, relatives, or family friends), and faculty all have an influence too. Get them involved!
Pressure your school to divest
Action:
Use Divest Ed’s map to see if your campus has divested, has an active divestment campaign, or needs one to be founded.
Check out Fossil Free’s booklet on how to start a divestment campaign on campus, and these resources which include a media toolkit, a graphic design kit, and video content to aid your campaign.
Read Environmentalist Bill Mckibben’s thoughts on the success and future of the divestment movement.
Prospective students, alumni (parents, relatives, or family friends), and faculty all have an influence too. Get them involved!
How it adds up
Students and young people have consistently been the driving forces behind major social movements throughout history. Fighting climate change is no different.
39% of students say that climate change is the most pressing issue facing the world, and millions around the world are taking part in demonstrations (Source).