Left to right: A cleaner by a waste sorting station; hydroponic towers; students throw their food scraps in a brown bin; workers install solar panels on a roof.

Transforming NYC Public Schools into Champions of Sustainability and Climate Resilience

NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability

Recent News and Updates

Climate Education Leadership Team Presents...

Join CELT for an exciting new virtual professional learning series! The Climate Education Leadership Team is here to help you weave climate education into your lessons, activities, and community partnerships. These monthly virtual sessions will have fresh ideas, practical strategies, and inspiring conversations to empower you as a climate education leader. Earn 1 CTLE credit.

January 2026

Fighting Climate Misinformation

Thursday, January 22 (4-5PM)
For grades 6-12 educators

Empower your students to push back against climate misinformation with the tools they need to navigate today’s complex information landscape. In this session, the Climate Education Leadership Team will lead you in exploring common forms of climate misinformation and practice strategies for evaluating evidence, spotting flawed reasoning, and strengthening critical thinking. Participants will leave with a classroom-ready lesson and presentation.

See the full calendar of upcoming sessions.

NYC Public Schools Climate Education Leadership Team

Climate Action Planning Event

- Thursday, January 22 (11AM-3PM)
- Gotham Tech High School, 53-16 Northern Blvd, Woodside, NY 11377

High school teachers and staff, invite your students to attend this in-person event at Gotham Tech High School, developed by our Youth Leadership Council!

Students will meet with local organizations, participate in a formalwear clothing and book swap, and learn about environmental justice in NYC. At the end of the event, they will make a climate action plan for their school or community.

A group of three students presenting at the Climate Action Planning Event

2026 Mid-Winter Climate Institute

February 18-19, 2026
8:30AM-3:30PM
Teachers College, Columbia University

K-12 teachers and administrators, apply for our two-day professional learning conference, focusing on how to bring climate to the classroom. Earn up to $792 in per session, and up to 12 CTLE credits.

Per Session Posting

Application Form

2026 Mid-Winter Climate Institute Application

Learn more about the Mid-Winter Climate Institute.

Climate Education Curriculum Entry Points

Teachers who attended our Midwinter Climate Institute developed entry points to help you bring climate into your classroom. Spanning grade levels and subjects, there are ideas for every educator!

View Climate Education Entry Points in Full Screen.

Entry Points from the NYCPS Mid-Winter Climate Institute

Show us your school's Waste Climate Action Day

We want to know about your school's activities! Did you "Say No to Food Waste?" Host a clothing or supply swap? Plan lessons about diverting waste from landfills?

Fill out our submission form and show us how you took part, and you'll be entered into a raffle to win a set of zero waste items! If your school had a "Bring Your Own Reusable Water Bottle" Day, let us know how many students brought a bottle - we'll add it to our grand total.

Students completing a litter cleanup outside their school building.

10th Annual sustainability project grant

Congratulations to the record-high 359 winning schools of our 10th Annual Sustainability Project Grant! This grant provides schools with up to $5,000 for sustainability projects, such as gardens, outdoor learning initiatives, environmental justice efforts, and climate education. Check out some of the record numbers from this year: