California's Parent Teacher Association now considers climate change an issue that affects children and there is a push to get the National PTA to make the same announcement.
The state PTA adopted a resolution stating climate change is a children's issue. The resolution clears the way for the PTA to lobby for the inclusion of climate change in school instruction and it allows the group to lobby for climate change legislation.
Climate change is a legacy that California's 9 million children will have to face, according to Laura Schumacher, a vice president of the San Diego PTA. She says California children now have a voice that will speak up on the issue.
"How it affects children, especially young children, and their health and also how its going to affect their future so we just need to get back to the science," Schumacher said.
She felt compelled to push the issue after seeing the political debate and talking with her now grown children.
"It doesn't seem like the push is going to come from our leaders, its going to have to come from grassroots. And I thought, when people talk about their kids, its hard for politicians to dismiss it," Schumacher said.
The National PTA could take the same step as the state group, but Schumacher said that probably will not happen until next summer.
