Press Contact:
Sasha Tenenbaum, Moms Clean Air Force, 917-887-0146, stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org
Nancy Metzger-Carter, Schools for Climate Action, 714-655-9419
What: Over 60 youth climate activists from across the country will gather on Capitol Hill Tuesday to urge Congress to finally get serious about climate change. At a live-streamed press conference, the high school students will introduce a youth-authored House Resolution calling for comprehensive K-12 climate education and a House Resolution calling for support for mental health for youth impacted by the changing climate. The student leaders and members of Congress will urge immediate action to support comprehensive climate education in schools while bolstering students’ resilience and mental health.
When: 11 AM ET, Tuesday, March 28th. Will go live here: Facebook event.
Where: House Triangle, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Who:
- Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04)
- Elizabeth Bechard, Senior Policy Analyst, Moms Clean Air Force
- Shiva Rajbhandari, 18, senior at Boise High School, student and school board member
- Lily Gelb, 16, junior at Sonoma Academy, Schools for Climate Action, House Resolution co-author
- Kennedy Runge, 16, junior at Oakland Skyline School
- Aishah Nyeta, GenZ Advisor, Climate Mental Health Network
Together with youth climate activists (approx 60 participants) from at least 12 states (CA, CO, FL, ID, IA, MA, ME, MD, NJ, PA, UT, VA) in attendance behind the podium.
Why: Last week’s release of the UN-IPCC report underscores that climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet. Young people are leading the charge to address it, but also feel the mental health impacts of increased extreme weather events and an uncertain future. Students are calling on lawmakers to expand K-12 climate education as a critical tool in building a sustainable future, empowering students to understand the science of climate change and create pathways for green jobs directly out of high school.
Visuals: Approx 60 high school climate activists from 12 states hold signs/banners including the slogans: Youth Voices for our Future, We Want Green Jobs, and other artwork; student leaders deliver speeches at the press conference with the U.S. Senate Capitol in the background.
Note to editors: There will be a few students able to do interviews in Spanish
For more information:
- Press Release: National Youth Conference on Climate Education and Mental Health Brings Together Young People and Parents for Climate Action
- Climate and Mental Health webpage.
- Schools for Climate Action website
- Schools for Climate Action introductory video.
To coordinate interview with our student leaders, please contact Nancy Metzger-Carter (714-655-9419).
To reach parent advocates, please contact Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org (917-887-0146).