California’s Senate Bill 1048, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 29, 2026, establishes a climate literacy seal for high school graduates. This seal recognizes students who have mastered climate literacy disciplines and green skills. California is now the third state to implement such a program, following Colorado and Maine.
Climate literacy is defined as understanding the earth’s climate system, assessing credible climate information, and making informed decisions regarding climate impact. The state education commissioner will propose criteria for the seal by the end of 2027, with the state board of education expected to approve them by January 2029. Local educational agencies will then decide whether to offer the seal.
Senate Bill 1048 was primarily sponsored by Josh Becker, who emphasized the need to prepare future climate leaders. The bill received support from various organizations, including Ten Strands and the California State PTA.
