- First Publication: September 18, 2024
- Revision: September 23, 2024 -- Added additional content.
Classroom-Level Climate Action
The following actions and case studies highlight ideas for climate change adaptation and mitigation at multiple scales and are meant to support and inspire students and educators to take steps that address the challenges outlined in The Fifth National Climate Assessment.
Regional Actions*
*These selections were curated by CLEAN
Pathways to Action for the Northeast
Action 1: Increase The Use Of Distributed Solar
Rooftop solar panels and solar photovoltaics offer hyper-local, clean electricity generation, whether grid-connected or part of a stand-alone battery system. For more information, see Drawdown Distributed Solar Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/distributed-solar-photovoltaics
Regional Case Study: Bob and Carmen Garver, co-owners of Wicked Joe, LLC, a coffee roasting company in Topsham, Maine, incorporated solar energy into their new facility.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/wicked-joe-coffee-goes-solar
Classroom-level action:Assess if solar would be a good option for your school.
Description: Research the benefits of solar and the solar compatibility of your school. Determine if solar energy is a good option for your school. If it is, create a plan for implementation.
Supporting Resources:
Solutions Journalism Network, Rooftop Solar and Microgrids
https://solutionsu.solutionsjournalism.org/collections/5fp7unzzhl
Drawdown EcoChallenge Distributed Solar Actions
Action 2: Find Ways To Address Flooding With Infrastructure
Green roofs can capture or slow water runoff. They can also mitigate the overall urban heat island effect and insulate the building. For more information, see Drawdown Green and Cool Roofs Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/green-and-cool-roofs
Regional Case Study: A hospital in Boston is investing in infrastructure that will allow the hospital to stay open and treat patients during flooding events.
Classroom-level action:Tour A Green Roof
Description: Set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in your city and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.
Supporting Resources:
Map Of Green Roofs Around The World
https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/
Drawdown EcoChallenge Buildings Actions
Action 3: Coastal Wetlands Restoration
Agriculture, development, and natural disasters have degraded many coastal wetlands. Restoring mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds to health revives carbon sequestration. For more information, see Drawdown Coastal Wetlands Restoration Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-restoration
Regional Case Study: When Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, homes and businesses along developed portions of the shore sustained substantial damage. Just down the beach, neighborhoods located inland from beaches with natural dune systems fared much better.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/restoring-natural-dunes-enhance-coastal-protection
Classroom-level action: Visit the Coast
Description: Visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Solutions
https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/coastal-ocean-and-engineered-sinks
Action 4: Improve Fisheries Management
Improving the management of wild-capture fisheries can reduce excess effort, overcapitalization, and overfishing. This can reduce fuel usage and rebuild fish populations, enhancing carbon sequestration. For more information, see Drawdown Improved Fisheries Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/improved-fisheries
Regional Case Study: Lobstermen in Maine are taking climate change seriously after the price of lobster greatly decreased in 2012 due to the effects of climate change on lobster ecosystems.
Classroom-level action: Explore sustainable seafood options for your school
Description: Talk to school cafeteria managers about whether the seafood served in the school cafeteria is sustainable and what options exist for school meals.
Supporting Resources:
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide
https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations/download-consumer-guides
Drawdown EcoChallenge Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions
https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use
Pathways to Action for the Southeast
Action 1: Improve Cooling Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency
Retrofits can improve energy efficiency and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions with better insulation and windows, efficient lighting, and advanced heating and cooling systems. Improving insulation can make heating and cooling systems more energy efficient. For More Information, see Drawdown Building Retrofitting And Insulation Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/building-retrofitting, https://drawdown.org/solutions/insulation
Regional Case Study: Residents of the Carolinas are familiar with hot summers, but in some areas excessive heat events bring a higher risk for heat-related illness—and even death. A new tool can help local communities get ahead of heat events so they can reduce risk for their residents.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/developing-early-warning-system-prevent-heat-illness
Classroom-level action: Learn about how your campus can become more energy-efficient
Supporting Resources:
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency: Buildings and Industry
https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-efficiency-buildings-and-industry
Drawdown EcoChallenge Buildings Actions
Action 2: Reduce Agriculture Impacts
Conservation agriculture uses cover crops, crop rotation, and minimal tilling to produce annual crops. It protects soil, avoids emissions, and sequesters carbon. For More Information, see Drawdown Conservation Agriculture Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/conservation-agriculture
Regional Case Study: From weeks-long dry spells to extreme precipitation events, farmers face significant challenges in bringing crops to market. Here's how one grower uses seasonal climate forecasts to increase his chances for success.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/climate-outlooks-increase-farmers-odds-success
Classroom-level action: Explore local food options
Description: Research local producers in your areas. Learn about CSA options, local farmers markets, food co-ops, food rescue, local foraging groups, or gardening.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge food, agriculture, and land use actions https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use#:~:text=SUPPORT%20LOCAL%20FOOD%20SYSTEMS
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Guide to Finding Local Food
https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/national-guide-to-finding-local-food/
Action 3: Improve Water Distribution
Pumping water requires enormous amounts of electricity. Addressing leaks in water-distribution networks, especially in cities, can curb water loss, energy use, and emissions. For More Information, see Drawdown Water Distribution Efficiency Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/water-distribution-efficiency
Regional Case Study: Explore the historical context of drought in the Apalachicola-Cattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Basin, a primer on how water resources are managed there, and a look ahead to the future.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/drought-acf-river-basin
Regional Case Study: Just south of Atlanta's busy Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Clayton County seems like an obvious place for metropolitan growth. But more homes and businesses mean a higher demand on the county's limited water supplies.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/water-recycling-clayton-county-georgia
Classroom-level action: Reduce water consumption
Description: Learn about how you can reduce water usage in your community or at your school
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge Buildings Actions
https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/buildings
EPA WaterSense
Action 4: Flood preparedness
Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges, overflows of rivers, and dam failure. Floods can be dangerous. People die by drowning when they don't evacuate before flood waters come or when they enter floodwaters. Floods can damage buildings and roads, cause power outages, and create landslides. Floodwaters carry waste and pollute drinking water. Flooding can develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can be sudden and violent. Climate change increases our risk of many types of flooding. But we can take action to prepare. Prepare now to protect yourself and your loved ones. For More Information, see The American Red Cross Flood Safety and NOAA National Severe Storms Library Severe Weather 101: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html, https://nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/floods/
Regional Case Study: After catastrophic flooding in New Orleans destroyed two hospitals, the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System is planning a replacement facility that will incorporate resilience against future extreme events.
Classroom level actions: Create a flood plan for your school
Description: Research the risk of floods for your school and create a plan for how your school can prepare and respond in the case of a flood.
Supporting Resources:
US Department of Education, Preparing for Floods at K-12 Schools and School Districts -https://rems.ed.gov/docs/K12FloodFactSheet_508C.pdf
Pathways to Action for the Midwest
Action 1: Building Retrofitting
Building retrofitting involves upgrading building components such as heating/cooling systems for high efficiency. This approach offers a sustainable solution for enhancing energy efficiency. For More Information, see Project Drawdown Building Retrofitting Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/building-retrofitting
Regional Case Study: This Minnesota tribal community—which subscribes to the Seven Generations philosophy—is taking action to reduce its contributions to greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously building community capacity to adapt.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/wicked-joe-coffee-goes-solar
Classroom level actions: Learn about how your campus can become more energy efficient
Supporting Resources:
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency: Buildings and Industry
https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-efficiency-buildings-and-industry
Drawdown Ecochallenge
Action 2: Forest Protection
In their biomass and soil, forests are powerful carbon storehouses. Protection prevents emissions from deforestation, shields stored carbon, and enables ongoing carbon sequestration. For More Information, see Project Drawdown Forest Protection Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/forest-protection
Regional Case Study: In northern Wisconsin, tribal foresters from the Menominee Nation are working to speed regeneration of forest areas that have been treated for invasive diseases. Their efforts are also creating forests that are better adapted to future conditions. https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/and-trees-will-last-forever
Classroom level actions: Research Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
Description: Learn how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land and ways to support indigenous people's land management.
Supporting Resource:
Drawdown EcoChallenge
Native Land Digital
Action 3: Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
Sustainable intensification practices such as pest management, crop diversification, and capacity building can increase per-hectare agricultural productivity for smallholders. This in theory reduces the need to clear additional land. For More Information, see Project Drawdown Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/sustainable-intensification-for-smallholders
Regional Case study: Raising livestock on grasses or hay depends on receiving the right amount of rain at the right time of year. When a growing season is dry, crop insurance can make the difference between ranchers' financial success and failure.
Classroom-level action: Explore local food options
Description: Research local producers in your areas. Learn about CSA options, local farmers markets, food co-ops, food rescue, local foraging groups, or gardening.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown Ecochallenge support local food systems https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use#:~:text=SUPPORT%20LOCAL%20FOOD%20SYSTEMS
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Guide to Finding Local Food
https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/national-guide-to-finding-local-food/
Action 4: Green and Cool Roofs
Green roofs use soil and vegetation as insulation. Cool roofs reflect sunlight. Both reduce building energy use for heating and/or cooling. For More Information, see Project Drawdown Green and Cool Roofs Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/green-and-cool-roofs
Regional Case Study: Explore on-the-ground examples of communities improving pedestrian and bicycle networks as co-benefits to building resilience.
Classroom-level action: Tour a green roof
Description: Set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in your city and ask about the codes and processes for installing a green roof.
Supporting Resources:
Greenroofs.com map of green roofs around the world
https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/
Drawdown Ecochallenge buildings actions https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/buildings#:~:text=ONE%2DTIME%20ACTION-,TOUR%20A%20GREEN%20ROOF,-GREEN%20AND%20COOL
Pathways to Action for the Southwest
Action 1: Conservation Agriculture
Conservation agriculture uses cover crops, crop rotation, and minimal tilling to produce annual crops. It protects soil, avoids emissions, and sequesters carbon.
For more information, see Drawdown Conservation Agriculture solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/conservation-agriculture
Regional Case Study: Precise Soil, Climate, and Weather Data Help Dairy Optimize Water Use
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/precise-soil-climate-and-weather-data-help-dairy-optimize-water-use
Classroom-Level Action: Host A Conservation Farmer
Description: Invite a local farmer who uses conservation farming methods to speak about conservation farming techniques.
Supporting Resources:
Conservation Agriculture - Food and Agriculture Organization
Action 2: Improve Water Efficiency
Drip and sprinkler irrigation, among other practices and technologies, make farm water use less energy/fuel intensive and conserve significant amounts of freshwater.
For more information, see Drawdown Farm Irrigation Efficiency Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/farm-irrigation-efficiency
Regional Case Study: Managing Water for Irrigated Agriculture in the Central Arizona Desert
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/managing-water-irrigated-agriculture-central-arizona-desert
Classroom-Level Action: Create A Xeriscape Garden
Description: Outdoor irrigation is the single largest residential use of water in the US. Replacing grass lawn areas and other irrigation-dependent landscapes with drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation can reduce the amount of water needed to maintain a landscape.
Supporting Resource: Resource Central - https://resourcecentral.org/xeriscaping-in-colorado-a-step-by-step-guide/
Action 3: Coastal Restoration
Like forests and peatlands, coastal wetlands are subject to severe degradation. Restoring mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also enhances their ability to support biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. For more information, see Drawdown Coastal Restoration: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-restoration
Regional Case Study: As sea level rises, wetlands and marshes must move inland, or drown. The Sonoma Land Trust is using innovative strategies to restore and enhance marshlands and the ecosystems they support.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/saving-tidal-marshes-san-francisco-bay
Classroom-level action: Visit the Coast
Description: I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and the health of the coast.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge Coastal, Ocean, And Engineered Sinks Solutions
Action 4: Distributed Energy Storage
Distributed energy storage is an essential enabling technology for many solutions. Microgrids, net zero buildings, grid flexibility, and rooftop solar all depend on or are amplified by the use of dispersed storage systems, which facilitate uptake of renewable energy and avert the expansion of coal, oil, and gas electricity generation. Adoption of distributed storage is different for urban and rural settings. For more information, see Drawdown Distributed Energy Storage solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/distributed-energy-storage
Regional Case Study: New battery capacity in the form of battery energy storage (BES) units was a key difference-maker that contributed, along with demand response, to preventing blackouts during California's extreme heatwave in September 2022.
Classroom-Level Action: Calculate My Household Carbon Footprint
Description: Calculate the carbon emissions associated with your household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge electricity solutions
Pathways to Action for the Northwest
Action 1: Incorporating Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge
Secure land tenure protects Indigenous peoples' rights. With sovereignty, traditional practices can continue—in turn protecting ecosystems and carbon sinks and preventing emissions from deforestation. For more information, see Drawdown Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/indigenous-peoples-forest-tenure
Regional Case Study: With valuable cultural and dietary assets at risk from sea level rise, this Pacific Northwest Tribe developed a plan to identify community adaptation priorities and concerns, and charted a course of action to address them.
Incorporating elders' wisdom in the process of systematically analyzing climate impacts and vulnerabilities in nine categories of tribal life prioritizes actions to take to enhance the evolution of an ancient culture, while protecting tribal traditions.https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/confederated-salish-and-kootenai-tribes-applying-values-taught-our-ancestors
Classroom-level action: Learn About Local Indigenous Communities
Description: Learn how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land and ways to support indigenous people's land management.
Supporting Resource:
Native Land Digital- Learn about the native peoples in your region.
Action 2: Improving Infrastructure Resilience
Improving infrastructure resilience involves upgrading critical infrastructure like transportation and energy systems to be more resistant to extreme weather events and sea-level rise. By investing in resilient infrastructure, communities can reduce damage and ensure essential services remain reliable in a changing climate. For More Information, see Drawdown Grid Flexibility Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/grid-flexibility
Regional Case Study: Civil Engineers in the City of Portland, Oregon relate how they used data and customized design storms to stress-test the city's stormwater sewer system.
Classroom-level action: Develop an Emergency Response Plan for Weather Hazards
Description: Research, develop, and implement emergency response plans to better prepare for climate-related hazards.
Supporting Resources:
US Department of Education, Preparing for Floods at K-12 Schools and School Districts
https://rems.ed.gov/docs/K12FloodFactSheet_508C.pdf
California Fire
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-set/wildfire-action-plan/
Action 3: Coastal Wetland Restoration
Agriculture, development, and natural disasters have degraded many coastal wetlands. Restoring mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds to health revives carbon sequestration and improves coastal resilience. For more information, see Project Drawdown Coastal Wetland Restoration solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-restoration
Regional Case Study: For many decades, farmers built low walls or dikes across coastal wetlands in Oregon to extend their farmland. Now, efforts to restore wetlands and prepare for sea level rise require information about where these dikes are and who is responsible for them.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/preparing-sea-level-rise-estuaries-along-oregon-coast
Classroom-level action: Visit the coast
Description: I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and the health of the coast.
Supporting Resource:
Drawdown EcoChallenge Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Solutions
Action 4: Improved Fisheries
Improved fisheries involves reforming and improving the management of wild-capture fisheries to reduce excess effort, overcapitalization and overfishing. This can reduce fuel usage and rebuild fish populations, enhancing carbon sequestration. For more information, see Project Drawdown Improved Fisheries: https://drawdown.org/solutions/improved-fisheries
Regional Case Study: Researchers in Washington's South Fork Nooksack River are seeking to better understand the potential impacts of climate change on water quality and salmon recovery—a process they hope can be replicated and scaled in other watersheds across the country.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/how-vulnerable-are-salmon-changing-climate
Classroom-level action: Smart Seafood Choices
Description: I will research how seafood is harvested and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
Supporting Resource:
Drawdown EcoChallenge Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Solutions
Pathways to Action for the Northern Great Plains
Action 1: Incorporating Indigenous peoples' knowledge
Secure land tenure protects Indigenous peoples' rights. With sovereignty, traditional practices can continue—in turn protecting ecosystems and carbon sinks and preventing emissions from deforestation. For more information, see Drawdown Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/indigenous-peoples-forest-tenure
Regional Case Study: Incorporating elders' wisdom in the process of systematically analyzing climate impacts and vulnerabilities in nine categories of tribal life prioritizes actions to take to enhance the evolution of an ancient culture while protecting tribal traditions.
Classroom-level action: Learn About Local Indigenous Communities
Description: Learn how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land and ways to support indigenous people's land management.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge food, agriculture, and land use solutions
https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use
Action 2: Improve Cattle Farm Management
Livestock manure produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Advanced technologies and practices for managing manure can reduce the adverse climate impact of animal agriculture. For more information, see Drawdown Improved Manure Management solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/improved-manure-management
Regional Case Study: Beef producers shared their collective experiences with past weather, and then considered the future. This engagement strategy increased producers' value for incorporating climate into their management strategies.
Classroom-level action: Explore Cattle Production in Your Community
Description: Talk to local ranchers and grocers about what practices are used to produce their meat products.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge food, agriculture, and land use solutions
https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use
Action 3: Reduce Agriculture Impacts
Conservation agriculture uses cover crops, crop rotation, and minimal tilling to produce annual crops. It protects soil, avoids emissions, and sequesters carbon. For more information, see Drawdown Conservation Agriculture solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/conservation-agriculture
Regional Case Study: Implementing no-till agriculture in Montana
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d8f366c63efe4a7f9cc8a4bed7a0db49
Classroom-level action: Explore local food options
Description: Research local producers in your areas. Learn about CSA options, local farmers markets, food co-ops, food rescue, local foraging groups, or gardening.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown Ecochallenge support local food systems https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/food-agriculture-and-land-use#:~:text=SUPPORT%20LOCAL%20FOOD%20SYSTEMS
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Guide to Finding Local Food
https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/national-guide-to-finding-local-food/
Action 4: Improve Water Efficiency
Drip and sprinkler irrigation, among other practices and technologies, make farm water use less energy/fuel intensive and conserve significant amounts of freshwater. For more information, see Drawdown Farm Irrigation Efficiency Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/farm-irrigation-efficiency
Regional Case Study: For irrigated crops, knowing when and how much water to apply has long been a matter of experience and guesswork. In a changing climate, new technology can reduce this uncertainty, enabling farmers to make every drop of water count.
Classroom-level action: Assess your school's water usage and brainstorm ways to reduce it
Description: Brainstorm the ways your school uses water, then think of ways that usage could be reduced.
Supporting Resources:
Water footprint calculator
https://www.watercalculator.org/wfc2/q/household/
EPA guide for reducing water in educational facilities
Implement water-saving measures
Pathways to Action for the Southern Great Plains
Action 1: Incorporate Wind Energy
Onshore wind turbines generate electricity at a utility scale, comparable to power plants. They replace fossil fuels with emissions-free electricity. For more information, see Drawdown Onshore Wind Turbines solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/onshore-wind-turbines
Regional Case Study: After 90 percent of the town was damaged or destroyed by a tornado, Greensburg, Kansas, and Kiowa County Memorial Hospital developed a Long-Term Community Recovery plan to rebuild for resilience.
Classroom-level action: Use Google Earth to find good wind farm locations
Description: Use Google Earth to compile data on average wind speed, topography, and land cover for possible wind farm sites near you.
Supporting Resources:
CLEAN selected lesson - Wind Energy: Exploring Wind Farms with Google Earth
https://cleanet.org/resources/45598.html
Action 2: Conservation Agriculture
Conservation agriculture uses cover crops, crop rotation, and minimal tilling to produce annual crops. It protects soil, avoids emissions, and sequesters carbon. For more information, see Drawdown Conservation Agriculture solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/conservation-agriculture
Regional Case Study: To manage their businesses successfully, farmers and food production companies need to know what crops are in the ground and how well they are growing. A pair of easy-to-use online mapping tools provides this information for growing seasons in the past and present.
Classroom-level action: Tend a garden
Description: Create a classroom garden, or a plan for one. Research how to develop a resilient garden for your region including what garden species grow well and are native.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge food, agriculture, and land use solutions
Action 3: Preparing for Drought
Description: Individuals and communities can adopt water-saving practices, creatpromotinge emergency response plans, and implement sustainable land management strategies to mitigate drought impacts.
Regional Case Study: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's storymap contains case studies and videos that describe the experiences of small and medium-sized drinking water utilities that successfully responded to drought. Explore the story of Clinton, OK.
Classroom-level action: Use the drought management database to find solutions
Description: The drought management database has a growing collection of information for responding to and preparing for drought. The information is organized into eight sectors that organize the information based on area of interest.
Supporting Resources:
National Drought Mitigation Center, Drought Management Database
Action 4: Urban Greening
Planting trees and creating green spaces in cities can significantly reduce urban heat island effects, lowering temperatures and decreasing energy consumption for cooling. These green areas also improve air quality by filtering pollutants, enhance carbon sequestration, and promoting biodiversity, contributing to climate resilience and overall well-being in urban environments.
Regional Case Study: Once a defunct golf course, Exploration Green is now a 200-acre urban green space providing the community with an innovative solution for their stormwater flooding and recreational needs.
Classroom-level action: Plant trees and vegetation
Description: Planting native trees and vegetation can reduce the heat trapping capacity of landscapes. Trees and vegetation can provide shade and natural cooling to environments.
Supporting resources:
EPA, Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands
https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands
Pathways to Action for Hawaii
Action 1: Coastal Wetland Restoration
Agriculture, development, and natural disasters have degraded many coastal wetlands. Restoring mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds to health revives carbon sequestration. For more information, see Project Drawdown Coastal Wetland Restoration solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-restoration
Regional Case Study: To restore function in a degraded but historically, culturally, and ecologically important watershed on O'ahu's Eastern Coast, The Nature Conservancy worked closely with local partners and used an adaptive management approach to ensure successful wetland restoration.
Classroom-level action: Visit the coast
Description: Visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and the health of the coast.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge coastal, ocean, and engineered sinks solutions
Action 2: Seafloor Protection
Vast amounts of carbon stored in seafloor sediments risk release by bottom-trawling fishing. Bottom-trawling bans and establishment of Marine Protected Areas can protect this important carbon sink. For more information, see Project Drawdown Seafloor Protection solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/seafloor-protection
Regional Case Study: Coral reefs off the west coast of Maui are readily accessible and heavily used by visitors and locals alike. Managers needed a plan to boost the resilience of the reefs so they could continue providing critical habitat for marine species.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/protecting-fish-save-coral-reefs
Classroom-level action: Research Bottom-Trawling Seafloor Impacts
Description: Encourage students to learn more about how bottom-trawling impacts on the seafloor.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge coastal, ocean, and engineered sinks solutions
Action 3: Flood Preparedness
Flood preparedness is crucial for minimizing the loss of life and property damage during flood events. It ensures that communities are better equipped to respond quickly and effectively, reducing the long-term impacts on infrastructure, economy, and public health. Regional Case Study: Preparing for La Niña- O'ahu's busy construction industry depends on being able to dispose of demolition and construction wastes. Forecasts for a developing La Niña—often accompanied by heavy rains in Hawai'i—alerted managers at the island's main construction landfill to their climate vulnerability. https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/preparing-la-ni%C3%B1a Classroom-level action: Build green infrastructure to help reduce runoff and stormwater flows that could exceed system capacities Description: Implement bioretention areas such as rain gardens and swales (depressions to capture water) and install vegetation or pervious materials instead of impervious surfaces Supporting Resources: Camden SMART Initiative's Completed Projects http://www.camdensmart.com/projects.html Camden Planting: Brimm School example https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151348177313273.539322.400311073272&type=3
Action 4: Prepare for Drought Events and Water Scarcity
Schools and communities can enhance their resilience to drought and water scarcity by implementing water-saving measures.
Regional Case Study: Collaborating for Success: Sustaining Water Supply on a Pacific Island- As El Niño can bring severe drying conditions to the islands of American Samoa, groups collaborated to ensure that decision makers have access to the local climate and water data they need to recognize—and prepare for—the threat of drought.
Classroom-level action: Implement water conservation measures
Description: Schools can reduce their water usage by implementing water-saving measures such as low-flow fixtures and quickly fixing water leaks.
Supporting Resources:
EPA Water Conservation Tips for Schools
Pathways to Action for Alaska
Action 1: Improved Fisheries
Improved fisheries involves reforming and improving the management of wild-capture fisheries to reduce excess effort, overcapitalization and overfishing. This can reduce fuel usage and rebuild fish populations, enhancing carbon sequestration. For more information, see Project Drawdown Improved Fisheries Solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/improved-fisheries
Regional Case Study: Tribal communities in southeastern Alaska are partnering with federal and state agencies to investigate increasing frequency, duration, and extent of harmful algal bloom events that pose human health risks to subsistence harvesters.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/alaskan-tribes-join-together-assess-harmful-algal-blooms
Classroom-Level Action: Talk With A Local Grocer
Description: I will ask my local seafood market or grocery store if their seafood is sustainable.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge food, agriculture, and land use solutions
Action 2: Coastal Wetland Protection
Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses sequester huge amounts of carbon in plants and soil. Protecting them inhibits degradation and safeguards their carbon sinks. For more information, see Project Drawdown Coastal Wetland Protection solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-protection
Regional Case Study: The Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in Seward, Alaska, is collaborating with federal and academic partners to measure the impacts of ocean acidification on shellfish and develop possible adaptation strategies.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/building-resilience-face-ocean-acidification
Classroom-level action: Classroom-level action: Visit the coast
Description: Visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and the health of the coast.
Supporting Resource:
Action 3: Empowering Indigenous knowledge and voices to create more resilient communities
Secure land tenure protects Indigenous peoples' rights. With sovereignty, traditional practices can continue protecting ecosystems and carbon sinks and preventing emissions from deforestation. For more information, see Drawdown Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/indigenous-peoples-forest-tenure
Regional Case Study: Community-focused gardening takes root in Alaska
https://ictnews.org/news/community-focused-gardening-takes-root-in-alaska?redir=1
Classroom-level action: Host a Speaker Series
Description: Invite Indigenous elders and community leaders to speak about their traditional ecological knowledge and its application in climate adaptation. This can provide students with firsthand accounts and deepen their understanding of TEK.
Supporting Resources:
Alaska Native Peoples
https://nativefederation.org/alaska-native-peoples/
First Alaskans Institute
Action 4: Take proactive actions for at-risk communities
Engage in proactive relocation efforts for at-risk communities, preemptively identifying vulnerable areas and facilitating planned transitions to safer locations.
Regional Case Study: Relocating the Native Village of Shishmaref, Alaska Due to Coastal Erosion
https://www.cakex.org/case-studies/relocating-native-village-shishmaref-alaska-due-coastal-erosion
Classroom-level action: Think proactively
Description: Evaluate which communities are at risk from climate-related hazards. For these communities, imagine what an effective relocation plan might look like.
Supporting Resource:
National Academies
Pathways to Action for the US Caribbean
Action 1: Coastal Wetland Restoration
Coasts are subject to severe degradation from climate change. Restoring coasts can provide protection and reduce flooding for communities at risk. For more information, see Drawdown coastal wetland restoration solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-restoration
Regional Case Study: Learn from Dr. Robert J. Mayer, Director of Vida Marina, about innovative restoration techniques used to create resilient dune systems that provide protection from coastal storms.
https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/training/puerto-rico.html
Classroom-level actions: Create a flood plan for your school
Description: Research the risk of floods for your school and create a plan for how your school can prepare and respond in the case of a flood.
Supporting Resources:
US Department of Education, Preparing for Floods at K-12 Schools and School Districts
Action 2: Coastal Wetland Protection
Coasts are subject to severe degradation from climate change that puts many ecosystems at risk. Coastal wetland protection is an important climate change mitigation strategy. For more information, see Drawdown coastal wetland protection solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/coastal-wetland-protection
Regional Case Study: The community of Culebra in Puerto Rico is taking action to protect their coast from further stress.
https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/community-effort-stems-runoff-safeguard-corals-puerto-rico
Classroom-level action: Protect Marine Areas & Macroalgae / Seaweed
Description: Research and contact public officials to advocate for coastal protection in your community.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown EcoChallenge
Action 3: Adapting to disturbance from climate-change-related hazards
Standalone batteries and electric vehicles store energy. They can enable 24/7 electricity supply even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. For more information, see Drawdown distributed energy storage solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/distributed-energy-storage
Regional Case Study: Aquifer Storage and Recovery: A Strategy for Long-Term Water Security in Puerto Rico - A unique, relatively low-cost project can serve as a model for long-term water security strategies across the Caribbean.
Classroom-level action: Learn about how solar power can support hot water systems
Description: Research how solar hot water systems can reduce electricity needs and how you can reduce water usage at school and at home.
Supporting Resources:
Drawdown Solar Hot Water
https://drawdown.org/solutions/solar-hot-water
Milken Institute School of Public Health - How to Create an Energy Efficient Home
https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/how-to-reduce-climate-change/#home
Action 4: Extreme Heat Prevention
Heat pumps extract heat from the air and transfer it from indoors to out for cooling, or from outdoors to in for heating. With high-efficiency, they can dramatically lower building energy use. For more information, see Drawdown High-efficiency Heat Pumps solution: https://drawdown.org/solutions/high-efficiency-heat-pumps
Regional Case Study: Residents of the Carolinas are familiar with hot summers, but in some areas excessive heat events bring a higher risk for heat-related illness–and even death. A new tool can help local communities get ahead of heat events so they can reduce risk for their residents. (While this case study is not from the region, the problem and solutions are applicable)
Classroom-level action: Plant trees and vegetation
Description: Planting native trees and vegetation can reduce the heat trapping capacity of landscapes. Trees and vegetation can provide shade and natural cooling to environments.
Supporting resources:
EPA - Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands: https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands
Diagram showing how heat impacts can be reduced without electricity: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Natural-cooling-in-Caribbean-traditional-houses-with-openwork-structure-built-on-stilts_fig5_276936877
Hazard-focused classroom-level climate actions
The following actions and case studies highlight ideas for climate change adaptation and mitigation at multiple scales and are meant to support and inspire students and educators to take steps that address the hazards associated with climate change.
Flood
Action 1: Install rain barrels to reduce flooding
Description: Use Floodsmart guide to choose actions that you can do around home and at school to reduce the risk and impact of flooding.
Supporting Resource:
FEMA and The National Flood Insurance Program
Action 2: Build green infrastructure to help reduce runoff and stormwater flows that could exceed system capacities
Description: Implement bio-retention areas such as rain gardens and swales (depressions to capture water) and install vegetation or previous materials instead of impervious surfaces
Supporting Resources:
Camden SMART Initiative's Completed Projects http://www.camdensmart.com/projects.html
Camden Planting: Brimm School example https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151348177313273.539322.400311073272&type=3
Action 3: Clean storm drain inlets
Description: Localized flooding can be mitigated by ensuring storm drains are free of debris. Spend a class period cleaning trash and clearing debris from roadside ditches, curbs, and drainage grates.
Supporting Resource:
Adopt-A-Drain, Camden NJ
Action 4: Create a flood plan for your school
Description: Research the risk of floods for your school and create a plan for how your school can prepare and respond in the case of a flood.
Supporting Resource:
US Department of Education, Preparing for Floods at K-12 Schools and School Districts
Fire
Action 1: Use Eco-Healing guides to create a local plan
Description: Use Eco-Healing report to create a local plan for providing assistance to students who are affected by wildfires through nature-based programs.
Supporting Resource:
Growing Up Boulder
https://www.growingupboulder.org/eco-healing-with-youth.html
Action 2: Use implementation examples to create solutions for your community
Description: Use information from the pdf to learn more about forest fires and solutions that have been implemented across the nation.
Supporting Resource:
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions https://www.c2es.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/resilience-strategies-for-wildfire.pdf
Action 3: Develop a wildfire safety plan for your community
Description: Assess your school's risk for wildfires and create a plan about how your school should prepare and respond.
Supporting Resource:
California Fire*
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-set/wildfire-action-plan/
*Can be used nationally where there is a high fire risk
Action 4: Design and implement a fuels management plan for your school
Description: Develop a comprehensive plan to manage and reduce flammable vegetation and materials around your school to minimize wildfire risk. This includes regular maintenance activities such as clearing brush, pruning trees, and safely storing combustibles to create a defensible space and enhance overall safety.
Supporting Resource:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Drought
Action 1: Use the drought management database to find solutions
Description: The drought management database has a growing collection of information for responding to and preparing for drought. The information is organized into eight sectors that organize the information based on area of interest.
Supporting Resource:
University of Nebraska
Action 2: Learn about how to reduce water usage at school
Description: Use the EPA's guide for reducing water in educational facilities and have students find ways to improve their water usage at school.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, Watersense
Action 3: Implement water conservation measures
Description: Schools can reduce their water usage by implementing water-saving measures such as low-flow fixtures and quickly fixing water leaks.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, Water Conservation Tips for Schools https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/region1/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_schools.html#:~:text=To%20reduce%20water%20use%20in,reduce%20water%20use%20during%20showers.
Action 4: Commit to smart irrigation
Description: watering lawns and gardens in the early morning or evening minimizes evaporation. Using an irrigation timer can facilitate watering during the most efficient times.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, When it's Hot
Action 5: Create a xeriscape garden
Description: Outdoor irrigation is the single largest residential use of water in the US. Replacing grass lawn areas and other irrigation-dependent landscapes with drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation can reduce the amount of water needed to maintain a landscape.
Supporting Resource:
Resource Central
https://resourcecentral.org/xeriscaping-in-colorado-a-step-by-step-guide/
Action 6: Assess your school's water usage and brainstorm ways to reduce it
Description: Brainstorm the ways your school uses water, then think of ways that usage could be reduced.
Supporting Resources:
Water footprint calculator
https://www.watercalculator.org/wfc2/q/household/
EPA guide for reducing water in educational facilities
Implement water-saving measures
Action 7: Implement rainwater harvesting
Description: Installing rainwater harvesting systems such as rain barrels and cisterns to collect runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, and parking areas can provide water for non-potable uses. Make sure rainwater harvesting is allowed in your municipality.
Supporting Resource:
Innovative Water Solutions
https://www.watercache.com/education/rainwater-harvesting-101
Extreme Heat
Action 1: Plant trees and vegetation
Description: Planting native trees and vegetation can reduce the heat trapping capacity of landscapes. Trees and vegetation can provide shade and natural cooling to environments.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands
Action 2: Implement green or cool roof technology
Description: green roofs, white roofs, and more reflective roofing helps to reduce the absorption of heat in the environment. Using Native and drought tolerant plants reduces water requirements. Design a plan to implement green or cool roof technology on your school and present that plan to school officials for consideration.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands
https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands
Action 3: Observe cooling infrastructure in your community
Description: Shade infrastructure is important in urban regions to reduce the adverse impacts of heat exposure. Take a field trip to observe how features in the city provide shade or reduce heat.
Supporting Resource:
UNEP, Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/beating-heat-sustainable-cooling-handbook-cities
Action 4: Design playgrounds and play spaces to reduce extreme heat
Description: Utilize shade infrastructure and other natural features to reduce heat and keep children safe from injury.
Supporting Resource:
Texas A&M University
https://geonews.tamu.edu/news/2020/12/vecellio-safe-playgrounds-report-release.php
Action 5: Tour A Green Roof
Description: Set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in your city and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.
Supporting Resources:
Greenroofs, Map Of Green Roofs Around The World
https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/
Drawdown EcoChallenge Buildings Actions https://drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/buildings#:~:text=ONE%2DTIME%20ACTION-,TOUR%20A%20GREEN%20ROOF,-GREEN%20AND%20COOL
Action 6: Create a plan to turn your school into a cooling center and present that plan to administrators
Description: Design a comprehensive strategy outlining the transformation of your school into a cooling center, addressing logistics, resource allocation, and community outreach. Present the plan to school administrators, highlighting its potential to provide essential relief during heatwaves and foster a stronger sense of community resilience.
Supporting Resource:
EPA, Healthy School Environments
Additional Resources:
All we can save resources for educators and students- https://www.allwecansave.earth/assignments-to-spark-action
GWU Individual actions to address climate change (some can be adopted for classroom level use) https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/how-to-reduce-climate-change/#top
EPA Green Infrastruture guide- includes information on urban heat islands- https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect and more info on other infrastructure solutions to hazards- https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure
Green Infrastructure guide: http://www.camdensmart.com/projects.html
Adaptation Clearinghouse: https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/search/?i=10635
- Links to helpful reports and resources regarding air quality, drought, storms/hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, heat waves
Right Here, Right Now Educator guides, see "ways to engage" sections- https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/programs/right-here-right-now-global-climate-summit
Planning for Urban Heat Resilience - https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/publication/download_pdf/PAS-Report-600-r1.pdf
Right Here, Right Now Educator guides, Solutions Educator guide
https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/programs/right-here-right-now-solutions-educator-guide
NOAA ELP resources to consider (explore these projects through their affiliated organizations if they seem applicable)
ClimeTime project profiles- https://www.climetime.org/project-portraits/
Adaptation strategies for sea-level rise, Indiana University- https://eri.iu.edu/erit/strategies/sea-level-rise.html
Youth2030 Action Guide for United Nations Country Teams (more of a call for youth action rather than a list of solutions)- https://www.unyouth2030.com/actionguide, https://www.unyouth2030.com/_files/ugd/b1d674_785e19eff2784a5dbf8a2a79255e4f44.pdf
NCA5 mitigation activities map (explore associated projects that seem to be at the right scale)https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/32#fig-32-20. Here's the metadata info.
Wild Center resource for students to take part in planning/resilience efforts in their city/region- https://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/youth-climate-program/youth-climate-summit-toolkit/
FEMA and The National Flood Insurance Program
Eco-Healing with Youth
https://www.growingupboulder.org/eco-healing-with-youth.html
Drought Management Mitigation Center - University of Nebraska
https://drought.unl.edu/Droughtmanagement/Home.aspx
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Guide to Finding Local Food
https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/national-guide-to-finding-local-food/
Native American Heritage Month - selected audio and video to learn about native americans
https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/audio-and-video.html
Partnering with Indigenous People and Local Communities (nature.org)