This bill would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create a Climate Change Education Program inside its Office of Education. The program must be set up within one year of the law taking effect. The bill defines climate change education, climate justice, climate literacy, environmental justice, and related terms. The program’s goals are to increase climate literacy for people of all ages, use NOAA science and technology in learning, and give practical information about new technologies, jobs, training, and incentives related to climate change and adaptation.
The bill creates a grants and cooperative agreement program to support: State educational agencies (working with local agencies and nonprofits) to develop K–12 climate literacy plans and teacher training; institutions of higher education to do applied climate research and community service; professional associations for continuing education in green economy fields; and youth corps for community-based mitigation and adaptation work with learning components. The bill sets how award funds should be allocated among those groups, requires communities of practice, and directs that 40 percent of funds for higher education and youth corps awards go to environmental justice communities. If annual grant funding exceeds $5,000,000, grants to entities working with state and local education must include a minimum award of $1,000,000. NOAA must not award grants directly to local educational agencies unless annual appropriations for these grants exceed $5,000,000. NOAA must submit an evaluation report to Congress starting two years after enactment and annually after that.
The bill authorizes $50,000,000 per year for NOAA to carry out the act for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. The bill specifies how appropriated amounts for grants and cooperative agreements are to be allocated (50% to K–12 state and local work, 30% to higher education, 10% to professional associations, 10% to youth corps), with alternate allocations if total grant funds do not exceed $5,000,000. It also requires a $1,000,000 minimum award for certain education grants when annual appropriations for grants exceed $5,000,000. No publicly available information on estimated administrative costs, unmet funding needs, or independent budget estimates is included in the bill text.
The bill text includes findings that back the program: it states that the scientific evidence for human-caused climate change is strong; that educating people can reduce fear and encourage action; that teaching about climate can help reduce emissions and support new technologies; and that many students graduate each year who will shape future choices. The authors argue NOAA already has an environmental literacy program and expertise to expand education efforts to include climate topics.
No publicly available information.