How the Seal of Climate Literacy can help California graduates

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OPINION — It’s graduation season and California high school seniors will graduate into a state that’s rapidly building a new energy economy.

Some of them have had access to environmental coursework, internships and hands-on projects to prepare them for climate-ready careers in a variety of sectors. Many others have not. New legislation would expand those opportunities and make it easier for employers to find the graduates who are ready.

SB 1048 would create the State Seal of Climate Literacy, a voluntary diploma distinction for students who complete relevant climate and environmental coursework and a hands-on capstone project to support climate readiness in their communities.

Any school district in California can choose to participate, and students who meet the requirements would receive the distinction — a clear, portable signal to employers that a graduate has gained real skills for a changing economy.

The Seal would help to build and scale access to more authentic, relevant learning experiences like those that students undertake with Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS), a nonprofit that partners with school districts to create comprehensive climate action plans and connect students to professional opportunities as their schools become more resilient in the face of climate change.

CAPS works with districts across the state and collaborates closely with industry partners to offer paid internships and apprenticeship programs for students. Those experiences — analyzing schools’ energy consumption, working on HVAC systems, understanding sustainable engineering in real buildings — are exactly the kinds of hands-on learning the Seal is designed to recognize and expand access to.

After completing climate-ready internships, students have been able to work and pursue additional professional opportunities in green careers. Industry partners like Mesa Energy and The Mobility House have emphasized the benefits of working with students and the value of the skills they have developed for filling gaps in the existing workforce.

Joining the green economy presents valuable career opportunities for high school graduates. In California, green jobs offer better-paying opportunities regardless of degree status. Green jobs requiring just a high school diploma typically pay 15% more than non-green jobs, and 14% more for those requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Employers in climate-related sectors have said that they want more opportunities to collaborate with students to help fill gaps in their current workforce and develop their workforce pipeline for the future.

The Seal creates that pipeline at scale. It signals to an employer that a student has done the hard work – a full program of coursework, hands-on learning, and a real project with impact in their community.

That is a meaningful distinction, and it complements the Career Technical Education pathways that already exist in California high schools in green agriculture, engineering, and architecture.

Students themselves are asking for exactly this kind of education. A current statewide initiative, GENup Student Vision for California Education, is gathering feedback from students across California about what they want from their schooling.

The preliminary findings are clear – students’ most engaging, impactful moments occur when they apply what they’ve learned rather than just reading about it. They want project-based learning, real-world experiences like internships and mentorships, and the freedom to explore their own interests.

The Seal of Climate Literacy is a direct response to that demand. It centers applied, hands-on learning and community impact, specifically in a field where California needs the next generation to continue its climate legacy.

The Seal also aligns with two existing statewide priorities: Gov. Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education and California’s recently released Portrait of a Learner. Both frameworks emphasize climate literacy, civic engagement, and career-readiness.

Rather than creating something new in isolation, SB 1048 builds on and connects those existing commitments, giving students a concrete way to demonstrate they’ve met the goals California has already said matter.

California students are inheriting a changing climate, and many of them want to be part of the solution. More of California’s students need structured pathways to develop practical skills, and employers need a reliable way to find them.

The Seal of Climate Literacy creates that connection. It gives students a concrete credential that reflects genuine preparation, and gives employers, universities, and communities a clear signal that a graduate is ready to contribute.

It meets students where they are and prepares them for where California is going.

Sen. Josh Becker (SD-13) represents Californians in most of San Mateo County and the northern part of Santa Clara County and is the author of SB 1048. Kirk Anne Taylor is the executive director of Climate Action Pathways for Schools.