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

2026 Climate Leadership awards

On September 22, we will honor over 150 NYC Public School educators, staff, and students who are championing climate solutions in schools every day, often behind the scenes. These Climate Leadership Awards celebrate inspiring examples of what climate solutions look like in practice in our school communities.

This event will take place during Climate Week NYC, showcasing the critical work happening on the ground in our schools while the world is watching climate action in our city

Learn More About Our 2026 Climate Leadership Award Winners.

Award winners hold certificates in front of a NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability backdrop.

Climate Week NYC

In addition to the Climate Leadership Awards, our team will be participating in Climate Week in various ways, participating in panels and attending events to share our successes and get inspired by climate action and education happening here and around the world!

Discover the Office of Energy & Sustainability at Climate Week NYC.

Climate Action Day trainings

We are offering two virtual trainings to provide you with activities, resources, and lesson plans to center waste reduction and sorting in your classroom and school community and earn CTLE credit.

Join us on one of these dates to get ready to reduce waste this fall!

Content will be the same for both sessions.

Youth Climate Action Grant Info Sessions

Do you know young people who want to green a space, lead a waste audit, develop a climate lesson, experience or research tool, plan and plant trees, start a youth campaign, or lead a similar solutions-oriented climate project?

NYC is among the 300 global cities selected to join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, and up to 20 NYC Public High Schools will receive $1,000-4,000 to support student-led projects.

Teachers, staff, and interested students age 14-21 at your school can join a grant information session:

We'll provide details about the grant application process, share example projects, and answer your questions.

Learn more about the Youth Climate Action Grant.

Three students smile, powering a small pan with a solar panel and solar lamp

Climate & Energy Education INtensive (CEEI) with Solar One

Solar One is hosting their annual professional learning opportunities where grades 3-12 teachers can discover ways to take climate aciton utilizing solar energy! Join for a day of standards aligned, hands-on activities, and leave with up to 5 CTLE Credits, a solar circuit toolkit for your classroom, and more!

All sessions have the same content and take place at the Solar One Energy Education Center in Manhattan:

Friday, October 16, 9AM-2PM

Monday, October 19, 9AM-2PM

Tuesday, October 27, 9AM-2PM

Learn more and register for the Climate & Energy Education Intensive

Climate Solutions Start with Schools

Learn more about our office goals and achievements, including how we:

Drive City emission reductions and waste diversion to create greener schools
Invest in staff and students as climate leaders to transform instruction and policy
Organize school communities around climate change action and opportunity
Advocate for student well-being in sustainability plans and climate policies

Office of Energy & Sustainability One-Pager.pdf

Climate Education Curriculum Entry Points

Teachers who attended our Mid-Winter 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.