On March 1, 2022, the Portland Public Schools Board of Education passed a sweeping climate policy that will direct district climate action around emissions reductions, climate education, and climate justice for the next three decades. 

The legislation, known as the "PPS Climate Crisis Response, Climate Justice, and Sustainable Practices Policy," directs the district to accomplish 3 primary objectives:

• Reduce environmental impacts by lowering district greenhouse gas emissions from building operations, transportation, and other sources.
• Improve the health and wellness of students and staff, and support frontline student communities to build resilience to climate change
• Teach our students about climate change, sustainability, and climate justice, with specific attention to helping students be active participants in real life, community-based solutions.  

This has been a long time coming! Students, community members, PPS school board, and district staff have been working together since 2019, having conversations and making incremental improvements to district climate operations. The district has already incorporated climate justice curriculum at the high school level and created district wide energy and sustainability standards for new and existing buildings.

This policy combines that ongoing work with additional pieces to create a comprehensive and ambitious climate agenda tied to specific goals and language around climate change and environmental justice. It is the culmination of hundreds of hours of collaborative work by dozens of students, climate advocates, staff, and the Board of Education. 

For anyone who cares about climate change work, climate justice, and racial equity, and is connected to Portland Public Schools or the City of Portland, this policy should be celebrated! 

Now the difficult challenge of implementation begins. We are beyond excited to get to work.