Co-Chairs Lead Letter to Biden-Harris Transition on Including Department of Education in Climate Agenda

Co-chairs Secretary John B. King, Jr. and Governor Christine Todd Whitman led a sign on letter urging the Biden-Harris transition team to include the Department of Education in any cross-agency effort to address climate change.

The Biden-Harris Transition team has identified climate change as a top priority for the Administration. Recent articles highlighting this work suggests the incoming-Administration will take a cross-agency approach to address climate change. In these stories, the Department of Education has not been listed explicitly as a participating agency.

In the letter urging the Department of Education participation, they note, "By including representation of education in a cross-agency plan, the Biden-Harris Administration can help to acknowledge the critical role education can play in climate solutions and help our country build long-lasting change to advance a more sustainable society."

Secretary King and Governor Whitman have been joined by other former cabinet officials including Secretary Arne Duncan, Secretary Sally Jewell, and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. Other co-signers include:

• Naina Agrawal-Hardin, High School Senior, Climate Activist
• Megan Bang, Professor of the Learning Sciences and Psychology, Northwestern University
• Vic Barrett, Democracy Organizer, Alliance for Climate Education
• Representative Carlos Curbelo, Principal, Vocero LLC
• Greg Gershuny, Executive Director, Energy and Environment Program, Aspen Institute
• Lisa Hoyos, Co-founder Climate Parents, Director of Climate Strategy, LCV
• Richard Knoeppel, Educator, Advanced Technologies Academy
• Dan Lashof, Environmental Expert
• Pedro Martinez, Superintendent, San Antonio ISD
• Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
• Janet Murguía, President and CEO, UnidosUS
• Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth
• Becky Pringle, President, The National Education Association
• Valerie Rockefeller, Board Chair, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers