Maine joins Colorado in recognizing student Climate Literacy

Maine recently launched a program that allows students to earn the Seal of Climate Literacy on their high school diplomas.

This initiative follows a similar model established in Colorado. To obtain the recognition, students must complete two science courses focused on climate issues and finish a practical, hands-on project. Mary Seawell, the founder of the nonprofit Lyra Colorado, helped start the program in Colorado.

She noted that students often choose projects based on their personal lives, such as investigating wildfire mitigation strategies after losing homes to fires. Other students have produced videos on water conservation or built solar-powered picnic tables. More than 1,000 students have already received the seal in Colorado. California recently passed legislation to introduce the same recognition, and various nonprofits and students are pushing for the program in other states.

Seawell views the initiative as part of a broader push for consistent climate change education.