Episode 53: Climate Literacy + Civic Action: How Colorado Made It Official
What does it take to move from youth interest in climate to state-level policy change?
In this episode of Field Chats: Environmental Action Civics Essentials, we sit down with Mary Seawell, CEO of Lyra Colorado, to unpack the story behind Colorado’s Seal of Climate Literacy — a high school diploma endorsement created through Senate Bill 24-014.
Mary shares how a small team, strong relationships with educators, and youth-led testimony helped pass statewide legislation without a lobbyist — and why centering student voice was the most persuasive strategy of all.
We explore:
*What the Seal of Climate Literacy requires (coursework + experiential, community-based action)
*How rural and urban communities alike helped shape and champion the policy
*Why flexibility and district-level ownership matter
*How existing frameworks (like Environmental Action Civics) can align with and strengthen the seal
*What it means to design climate education that is hopeful, place-based, and rooted in community values
In its first full year, more than 420 students earned the seal — with participation expected to triple. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when young people are trusted as civic leaders, systems can shift.
Hayley Valley
Hayley Valley, Earth Force's Communications Manager, joined Earth Force in 2010 and has since held too many roles to count - all drawing on her experience in communicating Earth Force's commitment to environmental action civics. When she’s not knee-deep in Google Docs, you’ll find her chasing her two boys around.
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