Empowering Climate Action Through STEM Education: Building a Greener Future Starts Now
April is Earth month—a time to reflect on our planet and act for its future. Recent climate data and events underscore the accelerating pace of the climate crisis. In 2024, earth experienced its hottest year on record , with average surface temperatures reaching 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This unprecedented warming has led to a series of extreme weather events worldwide, including intensified heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and severe storms.
As the climate crisis accelerates, we at JerseySTEM believe that tackling it requires more than global policy shifts — it demands a new generation of problem-solvers equipped with the skills to lead innovation in sustainability. From EV batteries to clean electricity grids, many of the world’s most promising climate solutions are emerging from STEM-powered industries — and the students we teach today will be the engineers, coders, and scientists driving that transformation tomorrow.
Studies show that youth are highly concerned about climate change, but often feel overwhelmed or helpless about what they can do. In 2020, New Jersey became the first state to require climate change education in K-12 schools , across all content areas and grade levels. Integrating climate-related content into STEM education can transform teenagers’ anxiety into action.
JerseySTEM’s after-school programs are designed to introduce climate-linked technology through practical STEM learning. Our programs empower middle school girls and underserved youth to explore STEM education in a holistic way that empowers them to tackle any climate solutions in meaningful, tangible ways in the future. By providing early exposure to cutting-edge STEM education, we’re helping ensure that the clean energy workforce of tomorrow reflects the full diversity and potential of our society.
Climate change is rapidly reshaping our world — and equipping students with STEM education ensures they are prepared to take action and lead that change toward a more sustainable future.