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Episode 53: Climate Literacy + Civic Action: How Colorado Made It Official
Description
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.
Learn more about Lyra Colorado.