A statewide partnership built for collective action.
ECCLPs connects the UC and CSU systems with educators, researchers, students, community organizations, and public partners to advance PK–12 climate and environmental literacy, justice, and action.
From a shared vision to a statewide network.
ECCLPs grew from a UC–CSU partnership formed with key stakeholders to strengthen environmental and climate change literacy across California. In October 2018, the two university systems began working toward a shared goal: preparing students to understand climate and environmental challenges and participate in solutions.
The partnership’s recommendations were published in the 2019 strategic summary Achieving Climate Stability and Environment Sustainability: PK–12 Education as Part of the Solution for Bending the Curve and showcased at the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit at UCLA in December 2019.
The report positioned education as a core part of climate action and emphasized teacher preparation, culturally relevant learning, equity, interdisciplinary curriculum, youth agency, and community partnership. At the time of publication, the report noted that UC and CSU together trained approximately 56% of California’s PK–12 teachers.
After steering committee work continued in 2020, ECCLPs relaunched at UC Irvine in September 2022. The current network builds on that foundation through research, teaching and learning, youth action, and collaboration across institutions and communities.
UC and CSU systems organize around climate literacy
A cross-system partnership begins working with key stakeholders on PK–12 environmental and climate change literacy.
Strategic summary and UCLA summit
Recommendations are published and brought together through the Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Project and Summit.
Steering committee advances priorities
Committee members prioritize report recommendations and develop concepts for joint UC–CSU work.
ECCLPs relaunches at UC Irvine
The initiative enters a renewed phase focused on statewide educator support, research, partnership, and action.
A growing statewide network
ECCLPs connects higher education, PK–12 education, researchers, students, and community partners across California.
Educate, activate, and empower.
Build educator capacity
Support teacher preparation, professional learning, curriculum design, and access to high-quality climate education resources.
Connect research and practice
Generate evidence, identify implementation needs, and translate research into usable supports for educators and communities.
Support youth agency
Help young people develop knowledge, voice, collaboration skills, and meaningful pathways to climate and environmental action.
The team supporting ECCLPs.
Asli Sezen-Barrie
Endowed Chair & Faculty Director
Richard Arum
Faculty Advisor
Bailey McCraner
Research Lead
Arya Karumanthra
Research Lead
Corinna Siu Mun Lee Chin
Communications Director
Raghav Surya Seshadri
Web Design
Cross-system expertise guiding the work.
Joseph KahneDutton Presidential Professor for Education Policy and Politics, UC Riverside
Joseph Kahne studies how school practices shape youth civic and political development. His leadership has included the MacArthur Foundation’s Youth and Participatory Politics Research Network, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, and the Educating for American Democracy Research Task Force.
Teresa LloroProfessor and Interim Co-Chair, Liberal Studies, Cal Poly Pomona
Teresa Lloro works across environmental anthropology, environmental studies, biology, human-animal studies, sustainable food systems, and environmental education. She has led externally funded research and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences from 2021 to 2025.
Heather ClarkLearning Scientist and Teacher Educator, CSU Dominguez Hills
Heather Clark studies how youth learn climate science in pursuit of climate justice and how teachers develop justice-centered science pedagogies. Her work emphasizes ambitious and equitable science instruction, place-based learning, and collaboration with educators.
Michele KorbScience Educator, CSU East Bay
Michele Korb has a background in secondary science teaching and educational policy and leadership. At CSU East Bay, she has built partnerships across science and education and contributed to nearly $15 million in National Science Foundation funding for STEM teachers and educators.
Angela DeBargerProgram Co-Lead, Catalyst Fund for Science Education, Renaissance Philanthropy
Angela DeBarger advances high-quality science education as a public good. Her prior work includes science education grantmaking at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, project-based learning programs at the George Lucas Educational Foundation, and research on student engagement and assessment at SRI International.
Maria SimaniExecutive Director, California Science Project
Maria Chiara Simani leads the California Science Project, a statewide network supporting high-quality, equitable K–12 science education. Her work focuses on justice-centered, language-rich science teaching, professional learning design, research–practice partnerships, and NGSS implementation.
Frank NiepoldSenior Climate Education and Workforce Programs Manager, NOAA
Frank Niepold has more than 20 years of experience leading climate education and workforce development initiatives. His work includes the Climate-Ready Workforce program, climate resilience training, and partnerships that strengthen climate literacy and workforce capacity.