Require Denver Public Schools (DPS) to Address Climate Change

Require Denver Public Schools (DPS) to Address Climate Change

Started
April 25, 2021
Petition to
Denver Public Schools Board of Education and 1 other
Signatures: 4,126Next Goal: 5,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by DPS Students for Climate Action

Climate change impacts you no matter who you are. However, it has a disproportionate effect on the future generations — our generation.

Denver Public Schools have not effectively acted on the climate crisis and have no requirement to follow Colorado Sustainability Guidelines. To combat the disproportionate effects of climate change on marginalized communities, a group of over a dozen students has been working since February of 2021 to pass our sustainability policy by the end of the 2021 — 2022 school year. We are DPS for Climate Action

Sustainability End Statement:
DPS shall be a national leader in establishing an organizational culture anchored in sustainability, climate action, and environmental justice in both the conservation of natural resources and in minimizing the carbon footprint of DPS’ practices. Toward this goal, DPS will:

  1. Collaborate with all stakeholders in a broader effort to prepare students and our community in shifting to a green economy.
  2. Set a new standard for school districts that mitigate the impact and effects of environmental injustice on marginalized groups who are disproportionately affected.
  3. Maintain fiscal responsibility while conserving our natural resources through clean energy technologies and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Global End Statement
The Denver Public Schools will provide students with Racial, Environmental, and Educational Equity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our complex and changing world. The Board of Education is committed to the singular and ambitious vision that every child reaches their full potential.

1.5 End Statement
Graduates will be diverse, independent, life-long learners, ready to meet the world academically and socially with the necessary skills to adapt to changing demands and the environment. All students will become financial and environmental stewards with the ability to make well-informed decisions. Students will be conscientious citizens who take bold action on the climate crisis post-graduation.

In our three-step plan, DPS for Climate Action plans to bring sustainability reform and environmental justice throughout the Denver Public School district.

Step #1: Pass End Statement + Modifications
Our first step towards getting DPS to fight climate change and be more sustainable is to create a climate action end statement and to modify some of DPS’ current policies to recognize environmental injustice. This policy has been created by our team of dozens of students from DPS. Directors Baldermann and Director Olson have sponsored it. We hope the DPS Board will pass the Sustainability End Policy before the 2021-2022 school year ends.

Step #2: Sustainability Management Plan
Our second step is to work with the DPS Sustainability Department to develop the Sustainability Management Plan. This is where the DPS Department of Sustainability will create specific targets, similar to the goals we outlined in our May 2021 Resolution before the board shifted to policy guidance, including to use 100% clean electricity by 2030 per Denver’s 100% Renewable Electricity Plan; and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% of the levels of district-wide greenhouse gas emissions that existed in 2010 by 2050. Director LeeAnn Kittle from the Sustainability Office is very supportive of such efforts. She has already hired two firms to help develop a Sustainability Management Plan, a process that will be supercharged if her office gets a mandate when the Board passes the Sustainability End Statement.

Step #3: Implementation & Action Phase
Our third and final step is implementing our policy and making an action plan. This is where we are really going to need your help! We will assist DPS in fighting climate change and work directly within the Denver community. 

Please show support by taking a few seconds to sign our petition!

Our goal is to reach 10,000 signatures! Furthermore, you can sign up for updates about our policy here. To follow our updates, find us on Instagram @dpsclimateaction and on Twitter. If you are a DPS student and want to be more involved or have any questions or concerns, please email dpsclimateaction@gmail.com. If you wish to endorse us, click here. Last, share this letter of support to your community, parent newsletter, or school announcement. 

Thank you for standing up for Earth and taking climate action! We can not wait any longer. 

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Signatures: 4,126Next Goal: 5,000
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Denver Public Schools Board of Education
  • Denver Public Schools Department of Sustainability