Climate Ride is working hard to promote sustainability and active transportation so future generations will not face the burdens associated with Climate Change. We reached out to Climate Ride beneficiary Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) to hear how they are empowering younger generations to get involved. Here is what they had to say:
“ACE works across the U.S. to educate and activate the leadership of high school students to address climate change. ACE has been a proud Climate Ride partner since 2011. ACE staff and students across America celebrate all of the climate riders, from New York to DC to Chicago to California, who continue to make our impact possible!
In a recent commencement speech, President Obama told UC Irvine students that it’s time to get serious about climate change. Talking directly to the generation that will inherit this great challenge, he said:
‘The question is not whether we need to act, the question is whether we have the will to act before it’s too late. We need you. And if you believe, like I do, that something has to be done on this, then you’re going to have to speak out. You’re going to have to learn more about these issues. You’re going to have to push those of us in power to do what this American moment demands. You’ve got to educate your classmates, and colleagues, and family members and fellow citizens, and tell them what’s at stake. You’ve got to push back against the misinformation, and speak out for facts, and organize others around your vision for the future.’
The President couldn’t have more perfectly expressed the mission of the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE). ACE was founded in 2008 to educate, inspire and activate the leadership of high school students to address climate change. Since then, ACE has educated nearly 1.8 million high school students across America on climate science and solutions, with a focus on public high schools in urban and low-income areas. ACE has mentored over 400,000 youth to lead energy and waste reduction projects in schools, influence parents to adopt renewables, explore STEM studies, and take climate action on college campuses. ACE envisions a future where one day, every teenager in America will understand climate change and drive lasting solutions throughout their lives.
At ACE, we know that young people are the best spokespeople to bring this issue to the forefront of the public conversation. Every day, we see that when given the knowledge, skills and confidence to amplify their voice, students get decision makers to listen. Take some of our favorite success stories:
Washington D.C. students testify before the EPA for stricter carbon pollution standards
Massachusetts students mobilize peers and parents to adopt solar
ACE alumna leads divestment campaign on college campus
California students cut school energy costs and lobby White House officials to scale across U.S
We also know that young people are ready. A new study shows that 80% of Millennials favor reducing carbon pollution and 79% believe that they can make a difference. Who better to get our nation to care about climate change than the generation that will inherit the results of inaction?
This month, ACE celebrates Climate Riders everywhere for your commitment to this issue and for all of your hard work in training. We need you to help ACE scale our climate education program to students across America and translate that knowledge into urgency and action. Thank you Climate Ride for creating a game-changing model that accelerates our impact and supports so many of our fantastic partners, from Sierra Club to 350 to NRDC!”
Want to help? Choose the Alliance for Climate Education as a beneficiary for your ride and enjoy the open road! Or you still register and support ACE in Climate Ride Midwest, Climate Ride NYC-DC or your own Independent Challenge!
At Climate Ride, we are currently in the middle of our Annual Fund and Bike Giveaway Campaign. By donating to Climate Ride’s Annual fund, you are supporting the programs of Climate Ride and allowing us to continue to increase our support of our beneficiaries like Alliance for Climate Education. To donate and see the bike you could win, click here!