The Climate and Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) was founded in 2018 by the National Wildlife Federation and a cohort of NGO, city, state and federal partners. CRETF is an intergenerational coalition of students, educators, policymakers, NGOs, and community members working to expand access to climate education and teacher training programs in New York’s P-12 schools. CRETF’s Youth Steering Committee (YSC) provides New York high school students with the tools to advocate for their own climate education. The YSC emphasizes the importance of youth-led, solutions-based projects and activities that promote civic engagement.

Together, since 2020, the CRETF and YSC have:

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• Successfully advocated for a new instructional requirement for climate education as part of new high school graduation requirements, beginning in the 2026-27 school year;

• Successfully advocated for the inclusion of climate education in the Climate Act's final scoping plan and in NYC’s strategic plan, PlaNYC;

• Rallied at the Climate Clock in Union Square to demand funding for climate education;

• Organized student-led roundtables, listening sessions and meetings with NYC teachers, staff from the NY State Governor’s office, Mayor’s Office, NYSED, and Board of Regents;

• Been featured in media, such as newspaper and magazine articles, podcasts, blogs, and press releases;

• Contributed to developing the CRETF vision for climate education;

• Created a toolkit with curated K-12 climate education curriculum resources for students and educators;

• Delivered public presentations on interdisciplinary climate education and green, healthy schools;

• Formed a youth-led executive board (E-Board).