Climate and Sustainability Resources
Frameworks and competencies for environmental equity
Climate Literacy Principles
Climate literacy principles help students understand climate science, recognize the impacts of climate change, and develop the knowledge and skills needed to take meaningful action. These materials span multiple disciplines and are designed for integration into existing courses or development of new climate-focused curricula.
Key Climate Literacy Topics
Climate Science Fundamentals
Understanding Earth’s climate system, greenhouse gases, and climate modeling
Climate Change Impacts
Regional and global effects on ecosystems, communities, and economies
Mitigation Strategies
Solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy
Adaptation & Resilience
Building community capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions
Climate Justice & Equity
Understanding disproportionate impacts and centering equity in climate action
Climate Communication
Effective strategies for discussing climate science and solutions
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide a global framework for addressing poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. Our resources help faculty integrate SDG-aligned content across disciplines, fostering global citizenship and systems thinking in students. Faculty in higher education commonly use the UN SDGs to teach about sustainability.
SDGs by number + figure
Climate and Sustainability Competencies
These resources are designed to develop specific competencies in students, including critical thinking, systems thinking, data literacy, civic engagement, and sustainability competencies. Each resource is mapped to clearly defined learning outcomes and can be integrated into diverse disciplinary contexts.
Core Competency Areas
Systems Thinking
Understanding interconnections, feedback loops, and unintended consequences
Critical Thinking & Analysis
Evaluating sources, analyzing arguments, and synthesizing information
Data Literacy
Interpreting data, creating visualizations, and using evidence-based reasoning
Scientific Literacy
Understanding the nature of science, scientific methods, and scientific communication
Civic & Community Engagement
Participating in democratic processes and community problem-solving
Intercultural Competence
Working across cultures and understanding diverse perspectives
Sustainability Competencies
Understanding sustainability principles and applying them to real-world challenges
Future Thinking
Anticipating trends, envisioning alternatives, and planning for uncertainty
