Short presentation on current efforts to develop a climate literate society.

1. Frank Niepold Climate Education Coordinator and Education Interagency Working Group Co-chair (CCSP) National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Literacy

2. Which contributes most to global warming? Source: Leiserowitz, 2003 ( n = 673) [email_address]

3. Revolutionizing Earth System Science Education for the 21st Century: Report and Recommendations from a 50-State Analysis of Earth Science Education (2007) Atmosphere, Weather and Climate in State Standards: Forty-two states directly (n = 30) or indirectly (n = 12) address atmosphere, weather and climate within their standards. Eight states have standards that fail to adequately address atmosphere, weather or climate concepts.

6. Climate Literacy development Current Federal Partners: NOAA, EPA, NSF and US Forest Service NOAA's Climate Program Office Education and Outreach program are developing the climate literacy essential principles as part of NOAA's environmental literacy priority through a partnership with NOAA's Office of Education, outside agencies and numerous organizations. The Climate Science Literacy Guide serves as a framework for understanding and communicating about climate science. The ideas outlined in the guide represent the knowledge that is deemed important for citizens to know and understand about Earth’s climate. The guide aims to promote greater Climate Science Literacy among the public by providing this list of climate principles and concepts.

7. Guiding Principle. Humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts 1. The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system 2. Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system. 3. Life on Earth depends on, is shaped by, and affects climate 4. Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes 5. Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling 6. Human activities are impacting the climate system 7. Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives