Taking a bold stance for their students’ futures, Chicago teachers are advocating for climate solutions in their union contract, standing in sharp contrast to several U.S. states where climate change is being scrubbed from textbooks.

On June 14, 2024, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) held a public bargaining session that broke new ground. While these sessions typically focus on pay, benefits, and leave, the CTU took it a step further, championing their students’ right to a sustainable future. Lauren Bianchi, Chair of CTU’s Climate Justice Committee, unveiled their visionary proposal, “Healthy, Safe, and Green Schools For Chicago.”

In her opening statement, Bianchi shared, “When I first began teaching in CPS, I was not an environmental expert or activist. However, my classroom experiences brought me to this work. My school is in one of Chicago’s most polluted neighborhoods…Clean air and clean water are not just topics our students learn about in science classes; they are among the most urgent issues facing my students and their families every day.”

The CTU’s proposal emphasized the importance of leveraging Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds to equip schools with solar panels, electric heat pumps, and climate-resilient campuses. But they didn’t stop at infrastructure. The committee also proposed long-term curriculum goals to address the climate crisis. Bianchi stressed the need for students to gain practical job skills, noting that many feel unmotivated by schoolwork disconnected from the real world and their career goals. To bridge this gap, the committee recommends Green Technology CTE programs at every neighborhood high school, focusing on EV battery manufacturing, solar installation, and carbon-zero HVAC systems. 

On the heels of this progressive move from the CTU, trustees in Texas’s Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District upheld their catastrophic decision to axe climate change from their textbooks. Meanwhile, climate science faces similar challenges in Florida, where, according to the Orlando Sentinel, two textbook authors were instructed to remove references to climate change before their books could be approved for use in the state’s public schools. These actions starkly remind us of the divergent paths states are taking in addressing climate change.

By advocating for climate solutions, the CTU joins fellow teachers’ unions in Massachusetts and California in demanding climate action for students. Together, these unions are leading a nationwide push for educational reform that prioritizes the environment.

While Chicago teachers push for climate solutions, other regions are rolling back climate education. This moment is critical for our education system and our planet. We cannot afford to let young people navigate a future without the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle the climate crisis head-on. The stakes are too high, and the time for action is now. With teachers in Chicago, Massachusetts, and California leading the charge, it is imperative that others follow suit to ensure a viable future for all. We urge district leaders to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard our young people’s future and our planet — before it’s too late.