We invite all colleges and universities to join EARTHDAY.ORG in supporting climate education across all disciplines for all students. Educational institutions can demonstrate their commitment to interdisciplinary climate education by signing our statement below, providing their own statement of support, or doing both.
Colleges and universities can join EARTHDAY.ORG to stand in support of interdisciplinary climate education, by signing onto the following statement, providing their own, or by doing both:
“We, the undersigned, acknowledge the critical importance of integrating climate education across all disciplines within higher education. We are committed to equipping all students with the essential knowledge and skills to address the climate crisis. Climate change is a multi-generational challenge necessitating a multi-generational response. Comprehensive climate education will empower today’s youth to develop innovative solutions critical for the future of business, health, social equity, and the very future of the planet.”
Who Should Sign On
We urge college and university leaders to consider joining if any of the following apply:
– Has your institution made a commitment to advance good environmental practices, reduce water and energy waste or combat climate change?
– Does your institution see value in integrating climate into its degree programs, such as teaching about climate risk in business programs?
– Is your institution growing the share of students that take at least one course related to climate, environment, or sustainability?
If so we want to hear from you or if you are interested in learning more – please reach out to Ryan Taylor directly at [email protected]
Participating Institutions
University of Tasmania (Australia)
University of Tasmania is a public research university in Hobart, Tasmania. It is a top 20 Australian university with 37,000 students. The school has a strong commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, reflected in its #1 ranking in the world in the climate action category of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and #4 on overall impact out of 2,152 rated institutions.
"The University of Tasmania understands the critical issue of climate change and our role in responding to the challenge through sharing our expertise from research, teaching and action. We strongly and actively support integration of climate education across all disciplines within higher education and, through our community-focused model, into primary and secondary education and lifelong learning opportunities. We are committed to equipping all students and our community with the essential knowledge and skills to address the climate crisis. Climate change is a multi-generational challenge necessitating a multi-generational response. Comprehensive climate education will empower everyone to develop innovative solutions critical for the future of business, health, social equity, and the very future of the planet."
Western Sydney University (Australia)
Western Sydney University is also a top 20 Australian research university, placing it in the top 2% of universities in the world. An impressive public institution, it enrolls 45,000 students across 13 campuses, and scored #1 overall in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (it ranked #4 on climate action).
“Western Sydney University is proud to be recognised as a global leader in sustainability because caring for our planet, communities, and people is a meaningful way to improve lives. Our commitment goes beyond words; we demonstrate our positive impact by striving to be climate and nature positive, reducing inequalities, and, importantly, leading on educating the next generation about climate change and sustainability. For three years in a row (2022-2024), we have ranked first in the respected Times Higher Education Rankings for our commitment to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.’’
- Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO
University of Technology Sydney
University of Technology Sydney prides itself on its positive impact, dedicating its research, instruction, and operations towards sustainability and its mission of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and social justice. Serving about 45,000 students, UTS performs highly on global sustainability rankings and stands out as Australia’s best young university (under 50 years old). It places among Australia’s top ten universities and the world’s top 100 institutions, according to QS and US News and World Report.
Climate change is one of the greatest existential threats the world has faced. As a public purpose institution UTS is committed to supporting positive change within and beyond our campus. UTS was the first Australian university to sign a Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019 and has committed to achieving Climate Positive by 2029. By incorporating a sustainability mindset and content into each course and program, UTS aims to develop graduates that are responsible global citizens who have the knowledge and skills to find innovative approaches within their careers and communities to find solutions to sustainability challenges
Danielle McCartney, Head of Sustainability, University of Technology Sydney
Polytechnique Montréal (Canada)
Polytechnique Montréal is an engineering university affiliated with the Université de Montréal. Its engineering programs are consistently regarded as among the best in Canada. With over 10,000 students, about half of them graduate students, the school has an intense focus on research. All students become familiar with the concepts and tools essential to sustainable engineering, and learn more about life cycle analysis, organizational resilience, energy efficiency and alternative energy, sustainable design and manufacturing, and environmental engineering depending on their program.
EARTH University (Costa Rica)
EARTH University offers one degree program, a four-year undergraduate course of study in agricultural sciences. Students learn all aspects of sustainable agriculture, including entrepreneurship and community-engagement. It attracts students from 40 countries all over the world, and is highly selective: out of about 1,500 applicants each year, only about 120 are admitted.
EARTH University’s primary contribution to climate action is in building a nature-positive food system: preparing a global movement of leaders that can reduce agriculture's impact on climate, mitigate climate change's impact on food producers and food supply, and increase farmer adaptability and resilience in the face of climate change. By 2050, EARTH imagines global food systems that provide healthy food for all in ways that are positive for people and the planet. We aspire to systems that leverage technology and innovative production models and that promote enhanced food awareness, diversity, and culture to provide greater resilience and dignified livelihoods.
Kaospilot (Denmark)
Kaospilot is an innovative, alternative higher education institution that stands out as a leader in design, business and entrepreneurship entirely centered around driving transformative change for a better world. Kaospilot has earned accolades such as the Danish Design Award as well as praise in Forbes, Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, Business Insider and other publications. Small but mighty, it enrolls just over 100 total students in its signature 3-year degree program at its campus in Aarhus, Denmark, and offers professional development programs as well.
“Our mission is to develop next-generation leadership to drive transformative change whilst fostering hope and belonging. We acknowledge that the climate crisis is here, and that climate literacy is needed. Not just for scientists and policymakers - it is essential for entrepreneurs and changemakers shaping the future.
At Kaospilot, we work with living systems theory, regenerative design, and transformative leadership to build ventures that balance impact, sustainability, and ethical profitability. Climate literacy is not just an additional subject - it must be a fundamental lens through which we approach all our work.
We are committed to equipping leaders with the knowledge and tools to create real, lasting change. The future needs bold action.”
ESEDS School of Design (India)
ESEDS School of Design is a European/UK concept school of design in Kolkata that brands itself as India’s #1 award-winning sustainable fashion and interior design college. The curriculum promotes climate solutions and ethical production with its focus on circularity, sustainable materials, and a combination of traditional crafts and innovative methods. Among its awards, inAugust 2016 ESEDS School of Design was recognized by Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF) as one of the top 58 design schools in the world offering sustainable design courses which integrate ethics and sustainability into their design curriculum.
“In an era of rapid environmental changes, ESEDS School of Design believes that climate education has become an essential tool in preparing individuals and societies to address the challenges of global warming, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events. Understanding the science behind climate change empowers people to make informed decisions, advocate for sustainable policies, and adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. Education fosters a sense of responsibility and equips future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to address the climate crisis effectively and contribute to a healthier planet.”
AMC Engineering College (India)
AMC Engineering College is one of the top 25 engineering institutions in all of India, out of thousands of schools, and among the very best in Bengaluru. AMCEC incorporates environmental awareness and sustainability into its programs, such as civil engineering and computer science and engineering, via projects with real-world applications as well as strong extracurricular activities. AMCEC serves about 2,500 students.
Universidad del Medio Ambiente (Mexico)
Universidad del Medio Ambiente is a small and growing university centered on promoting a regenerative, sustainable, and ethical future by supporting — and teaching — agents of change. Through project-based learning, the core undergraduate program gives students work experience in business, consulting, civil society organizations, or entrepreneurial ventures that are meant to improve people's well-being and generate a positive effect on nature. UMA’s campus is an inspiring living laboratory 40 miles west of Mexico City.
UMA participates in our climate education initiative by providing this statement:
“Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA) acknowledges the critical importance of integrating environmental education across all disciplines within higher education. We are committed to equipping all students with knowledge, skills and mental models to address the socio-ecological crisis. Safeguarding the health of the planet is a multi-generational challenge necessitating an immediate response. Comprehensive systemic, critical and ethical thinking capacities are crucial to empower today's youth to promote the deep structural changes needed to inherit a livable world for next generations of humans and other species.”
Chatham University (United States)
Chatham University is a liberal arts school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a strong commitment to sustainability, scoring highly in national rankings of greenest colleges and universities. The school embraces the legacy of its alumnus Rachel Carson, whose 1962 book Silent Spring helped spark the environmental movement in the United States. Its Eden Hall Campus north of the city, on 388 acres of rolling woodlands and fields, is a living example of sustainability, with net zero total impact and sustainability integrated into all programs.
College of the Atlantic (United States)
College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine is a liberal arts school with an innovative, interdisciplinary pedagogy centered on the concept of human ecology. Its hundreds of students design their own courses of study, but each one examines our place in the natural world — from the unmatched vantage point of their carbon neutral campus near Acadia National Park. Climate-related coursework ranges from building science to history to sustainable agriculture, making use of their 300 acres of farmland.
Since our founding, College of the Atlantic has approached learning through the lens of human ecology, which seeks to examine and improve the relationships we have with our natural, social, and built environments. Issues of environmental and social sustainability are a core part of this mission, and both are woven into our curriculum and campus initiatives in numerous ways. Environmental education is extremely important and we are pleased to support its integration across the disciplines.
Dickinson College (United States)
Dickinson College, a top 50 liberal arts college in the US, has integrated sustainability across the entire college curriculum, spanning their 45 major programs in arts and humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Dickinson placed #1 among baccalaureate institutions in the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index, for the last three years. Established in 1783 in the central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle, Dickinson enrolls over 2,000 undergraduates and manages an 80 acre organic farm.
“Dickinson enthusiastically joins EARTHDAY.ORG and others in calling for climate education to be integrated into higher education. At Dickinson, we have infused learning about climate change and sustainability across our liberal arts curriculum and made them integral parts of our students’ experience in and out of the classroom. We have done so because we recognize that climate change impacts all of us and that we and our students have responsibilities for acting to mitigate the risks. Our approach emphasizes experiential learning that builds knowledge and competencies for working together on shared purposes, navigating differences, integrating knowledge from diverse fields, and applying skills for problem solving, innovation, and mobilizing resources.”
John E. Jones, President, Dickinson College
SUNY ESF – State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (United States)
Located in Syracuse, New York, SUNY ESF is one of premier colleges in the United States entirely focused on managing the environment and developing green technologies. The institution’s curriculum was ranked #1 in the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index last year and in 2022, with programs ranging from chemical engineering to construction management that directly embed environmental sustainability. ESF has over 2,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students who enjoy immersive experiences at nine field campuses around the Empire State, and close ties with neighboring Syracuse University.
"At ESF, we know first-hand the critical role building environmental education into higher ed plays in meeting the escalating challenges of climate change. Our faculty and staff are committed to engaging our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt and innovate in a changing world. We prioritize ‘practicing what we teach’ and seek to embody sustainability in college operations. This commitment underscores our dedication to fostering a generation capable of advancing sustainable solutions and improving our world."
Joanie Mahoney, President, ESF
UN SDG Academy (Global)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Academy provides free, graduate level online courses to teach knowledge and skills for advancing the SDGs, including climate action. Leading faculty from all over the world have contributed over fifty MOOCs (massive open online courses) reaching 1 million students since its founding in 2014. It is a program of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, led by world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs.
“At the SDG Academy we work toward Mission 4.7, which puts into practice the bold vision of SDG Target 4.7 to ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, by 2030. Climate education and environmental education, alongside education for all the SDGs, must be part of a continuum of education from pre-school, into K12, up to higher levels and, most importantly, as part of lifelong learning. Everyone everywhere needs urgent schooling on how to coexist with nature and people.”
Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
"Education is a key for climate action. Climate education builds resiliency and prepares students to create and work in green jobs that are critical to driving solutions. Seeing these institutions commit to climate education is a powerful signal to the world that we cannot address the climate crisis without education and is a commitment to today's youth and an investment in their future."