Some school districts are adding programs in clean energy and sustainability, while one state is infusing environmental lessons into culinary education, construction and nearly every pathway.
Even as President Donald Trump declares climate change a “hoax” and cuts funding to fight it, school systems in both blue and red states are adding classes in fields like clean energy and infusing environmental sustainability lessons in construction, culinary and other career pathways, as part of an effort to prepare students for a workplace altered by climate change.
The trend comes as industries embrace emerging technology in an effort to remain globally competitive, adjust to environmental changes and reduce costs, state and school leaders said. Even jobs that historically have not been considered environmental careers are adapting to changing industry demands.
There’s another reason schools are adding sustainability focused courses, too: A growing number of young people, many of whom have lived through severe hurricanes, heat waves and other extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, are worried about the warming planet and seek ways to alleviate it.
“They want to make sure the world is safe and clean for foreseeable generations,” said Dan Hinderliter, associate director of state policy at Advance CTE, an organization that represents state and school leaders of career and technical education.
On the forefront of this movement is Delaware, a state with plans for all of its middle and high school CTE courses to include environmental lessons in the coming years.
The idea is for students in every industry — from carpentry to teacher training — to have some knowledge about sustainability and environmental impact, said Jon Wickert, the state’s director of career and technical education and STEM initiatives.
February 15, 2026, Ariel Gilreath, The Hechinger Report: Students learn new skills they’ll need as climate change advances