Racializing the Climate Justice movement in education

Abstract

In this essay, we argue for racializing approaches to teaching climate change to better understand and address climate injustices. We draw upon the example of the Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 which caused a disproportionate number of deaths in the Black community. Extreme weather events such as the blizzard highlight the ways in which climate catastrophes and racial injustices are inextricably linked. We urge educators across all content areas to incorporate a climate justice education approach and outline an approach to transformative climate justice learning.