Educators ‘climatize’ their classes to prepare students for work and life on a warming planet

March 1, 2026 - 14:15

Four years ago, Holly Bailey-Hofmann’s English 101 course at West Los Angeles College underwent a significant transformation. She joined a pilot program encouraging professors to weave climate change and community resilience into their existing curricula. While only required to adapt a single module, Bailey-Hofmann found the concepts so integral that she reshaped her entire course.

Her experience reflects a growing movement in education known as "climatizing" the classroom. This approach moves beyond dedicated environmental science classes, embedding climate context across diverse disciplines. The goal is to prepare students not just for specific green jobs, but for informed citizenship and problem-solving in a warming world.

In an English class, this might mean analyzing climate fiction or crafting policy memos. A history course could examine the societal impacts of past environmental shifts, while a business syllabus might focus on sustainable economics. This interdisciplinary method aims to build a foundational literacy, ensuring graduates understand how climate change intersects with every field and community.

Proponents argue that such an education is no longer a niche interest but an essential skill set. As the planet changes, they contend, every profession and personal decision will be touched by its effects. By climatizing their classes, educators hope to empower a generation with the knowledge and critical thinking necessary to navigate and innovate within this new reality.