Volume 3, Issue 1 | January 2026
Registration for the Climate and Equity Institute 2026 is now open. Please share this news with colleagues, and encourage them to apply. The link is on the Climate and Equity home page, where interested teachers can also see back copies of the Newsletter and other information. Note that we are seeking to recruit 18 teachers this year — so help us get the word out!
The winter has turned cold and snowy for many of us: How are you carrying on your climate and equity work despite it all (and despite the other kinds of turmoil in many places around the country)? Send news or resources to share for the next newsletter: Deadline: Friday, Feb, 13th.
Updates
Call-back session: Join us for a call-back session on Tues, Feb. 3rd at 7 pm Eastern time. Molly German (2024) will offer a presentation entitled “Indigenous food systems are abundant! Take care of the land and the land takes care of us. (learnings from Dr. Lyla June)” There will be time for Q&A with Molly, and then time to exchange news and check-ins.
Resources
Research paper: More than just facts: Countering climate mis-and-disinformation with critical thinking and empathy, Chris Rabe and Alejandro Paz (Open Access)
From the introduction: “Simply presenting scientific facts is not enough to help students understand climate change and its complex impacts and solutions. Educators should teach students to critically evaluate climate change information and reflect on how their emotions, experiences, and pre-conceived ideas shape their perspectives. These elements of climate education are essential because students live in an information ecosystem where they may be exposed to mis-and-disinformation about climate change.”
Webinar: Thriving in an Age of Disasters: How to build emotional resilience and take action
Climate mental health. We have mentioned the Climate Mental Health Network before, and if you have not checked it out, you may find it to be a valuable resource for yourself and your students.
They are offering a free webinar Feb 5th at 8pm ET, “Thriving in an Age of Disasters: How to build emotional resilience and take action.”
Details and register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LT6p6dAXQZio4Gn6mx1sDQ#/registration
Join this dynamic webinar with national experts to explore the emotional dimensions of climate change and the powerful connection between individual wellbeing and collective action. Participants will gain practical tools and resources for cultivating emotional resilience, alongside concrete strategies for taking meaningful, values-aligned action in their communities.
Webinar speakers: -Elizabeth Bagley, PhD: Managing Director, Project Drawdown -Larissa Dooley, PhD: Director of Research and Programs, Climate Mental Health Network -Joshua Low, Partnerships Director, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication Moderator: -Kate Yoder, Senior Staff Writer, Grist
The webinar is free and will be recorded for those who cannot join live.
Documentary: The White House Effect
An Exceptional documentary that shows how political decisions changed our planet’s future.
Take this unique opportunity to have your students explore the dramatic origin story of the climate crisis and how it became politicized and changed the course of history. Through powerful archival footage, The White House Effect shows how presidents from Jimmy Carter through George H.W. Bush grappled with the first clear scientific warnings about a warming planet. It reveals how early promises of action were reshaped by political pressure and economic interests, and how those decisions set the stage for the climate challenges we now face. Instead of relying on simple takeaways, the film lets history unfold in real time and invites viewers to consider the weight of those choices both in their moment and in ours today.
Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNOxFwZLRZU&t=83s
The film is divided into four sections, allowing your students time to digest the issues before engaging in discussions about leadership, responsibility, and values.
Please share this with your social studies/civics colleagues too!
The film is currently streaming on Netflix or can be accessed by requesting a free 30-day screening here: https://www.thewhitehouseeffect.com/for-educators
Free community screenings are available too: https://www.thewhitehouseeffect.com/screenings-1-1
Now’s your chance!
Send us your ideas, your news items, or resource reviews by February 13th for next month’s newsletter.
Call-backs: Feel free to suggest topics for future call back sessions
Contact Brian at climateandequity@terc.edu with ideas and proposals!
The Climate and Equity project is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.