Official Site of The State of New Jersey

New Jersey is leading the nation in integrating climate change education across all content areas and grade levels. Through dedicated funding, state and national partnerships, and innovative grant programs, students across the state will lead us into a climate-literate and resilient future.

Statewide Commitment and Investment

Since 2023, New Jersey has invested more than $10 million to support high‑quality climate change education through the creation of a state-wide professional learning network for educators and targeted support to deepen school-community partnerships. This investment continues through 2026 with sustained funding for ongoing implementation and new program opportunities.

Advancing High-Quality Instruction

The NJDOE’s Climate Change Education Unit developed the Key Elements of High‑Quality Climate Change Education to ensure consistent, research‑based instructional practices statewide. These elements guide professional learning, curriculum design, and classroom implementation across New Jersey schools.

Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLCs)

Four regional CCLCs were established through partnerships between New Jersey institutes of higher education and community‑based nonprofit organizations to provide professional development, technical assistance, and experiential learning for educators and students across all grade levels and content areas.

Together, they have delivered hundreds of learning opportunities to thousands of NJ educators, with 95% reporting increased confidence in teaching climate change.

These collaboratives also foster a statewide network of educators, strengthening collaboration and elevating teacher leadership in climate literacy.

Interdisciplinary Learning for Community Resilience

In the 2024-2025 school year, thirty-two NJ local education agencies (LEAs) were awarded grant funding to create model interdisciplinary instructional units and student‑driven community resilience projects that expanded access to high-quality climate change education opportunities for over 14,500 students, 650 educators, and 87 schools.

Projects addressed local climate challenges — from coastal erosion to food insecurity — and engaged students in authentic, locally-focused problem‑solving. Partnerships with 48 local community organizations, including municipalities, nonprofits, and universities, connected students with community members and industry experts working on real‑world climate solutions.