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Learn. Dream. Do. Inspire.Kids Change the World.

In 2018, The Sierra Club adopted The Global Warming Express Program to help to bring it to kids throughout the chapter’s territory. The Global Warming Express (GWE) is a climate change education and advocacy non-profit program created By kids/For kids, ages 8-12. An 8-year-old girl, Marina Weber, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, decided to address her concern about climate change by writing a book to give to the President and by starting a kids’ movement to work with the problem. The book, The Global Warming Express, illustrated by her friend, Joanna Whysner, was given to President Obama to remind him of the urgency of the problem. The kids’ movement began with 10 children from one elementary school, who were concerned that grownups would not listen to them. Their actions over that year changed their environment and their city’s policies.

In the six years since its inception, The Global Warming Express has become a fast-growing kids’ movement in elementary schools in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los Alamos and Las Cruces, NM. Programs at each school meet weekly, to learn science, climate science, sustainable solutions, expression through arts and advocacy. Each group of students sets Small and Big goals for themselves to accomplish in their community, city or state, through civic engagement- public speaking and letter writing-and action (visual and performing arts).

The GWE kids have been invited to give talks and performances all over New Mexico, and to connect with groups in other states. They have met with climatologist Dr. James Hansenand have become well known toU.S. Senator Tom Udall, U.S.Representative Ben Ray Lujan, several of the New Mexico mayors and many other enthusiastic, influential adults. Our kids have been filmed for an HBO 4-part series on kids and the environment aired in September, 2014, have helped to pass the plastic bag ban and 10 cent paper bag fees in Santa Fe, have solarized a school, started gardens, upgraded recycling efforts, and sat on one mayor’s prestigious Climate Action Task Force, for two years. In the 2017/18 school year, the GWE kids in Los Cruces, ABQ and Santa Fe created actions with their mayors to move sustainability efforts forward and their joint work will continue in the 2018/19 school year.2018/19 will mark the GWE’s 6thschool year, with 15 schools and 18 programs running throughout the state.

The GWE has won several national and local honors and awards, including a Sustainable Santa Fe Award and The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

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Global Warming Express News

GWE is growing – and looking for volunteers!

GWE is growing – and looking for volunteers!
The Global Warming Express program celebrates a full decade of mentoring kids who go on to inspire others about the solutions to the climate crisis. For 10 years we have been bringing hands-on program mentoring through the entire school year ... Read More

Global Warming Express: From Congress to the Legislature

Global Warming Express: From Congress to the Legislature
The Global Warming Express has been busier and bigger than ever this fall. By January we will have added new programs in Belen, Taos and Santa Fe and will have recruited five more mentors, in addition to our fall programs.  ... Read More

Global Warming Express kids need your support

Global Warming Express kids need your support
Can you imagine the future our children and grandchildren are facing? They are actively imagining it. Is it one of hope? Surprisingly, it is. And they are looking to you and me to help them ... Read More

Global Warming Express – year in review

Global Warming Express - year in review
The 2019-2020 year marks the 7th year of The Global Warming Express and it is shaping up to be one of the busiest. Below is a portion of what the Global Warming Expressers have been up to: January 9, 2019: ... Read More