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Inside Energy: Climate change and the campaign

Climate change is a controversial topic in this election cycle, especially when it come to teaching it in school. 

So far only 12 states have adopted a new set of science education standards that include the human impacts on global warming  - and North Dakota is not one of them.  For Inside Energy, Leigh Paterson reports on how climate change in the classroom is playing out on the campaign trail.

Natalia Macker is new to motherhood. AND politics.

‘In may, about two weeks before I filed for office I gave birth to my first child.'

Macker is running to represent Wyoming’s House District 22. And she has something unusual to say:

‘I believe climate change is real’

And this:

“I believe that climate change science does belong in classrooms.

For anyone running for office in Wyoming, voicing these beliefs is a BIG DEAL. In part because of the controversy surrounding a science education framework called the Next Generation Science Standards. The co-called NGSS include the idea that global warming is a man-made problem.

I met Macker’s challenger, incumbent Marti Halverson at a coffee shop near her home in Etna, Wyoming. She agrees the climate is changing, but is adamantly opposed to teaching that it is man-made. And then, she gets to the heart of the issue.

"We have the cleanest burning coal right here in WY. It does emit some level of CO2, no question about it. Is it catastrophic levels? I dont think so."

The link between fossil fuels and climate change is particularly tough in Wyoming because the state literally runs on coal. In 2013, coal mining generated over $1 billion dollars in revenue for Wyoming, and its school system? Funded mostly by mineral royalties. That’s why climate change is such a big election issue here. Its come up in nearly every debate.Like here in the gubernatorial:

“Next Generaion Science Standards, obsolete,” “This is censorship of science,”

and in the school superintendent’s

“Our school districts are screaming for a science standard”
“They are off the shelf science standards and we live on top of a science classroom in Wyoming.”

At Pinedale High School in western Wyoming

"What I’m gonna ask you at this time is to consider as a team what disturbance you would like to use."

Michael Gregory’s sophomore biology class is studying human impacts on the environment….
Girls in a cluster collapse into giggles as they try to explain ideas for the impact they’ve chosen: global warming. That’s a good idea, that’s a good topic to go ahead and work with.

The NGSS aren’t officially part of a Wyoming science education -- though the state’s teacher’s union strongly endorsed them. Gregory was himself a member of the state committee that reviewed the standards. But he understands the conflict:

"I grew up in Wyoming and I’ve been aware of natural resources and their benefit to our state since I was a kid. So it becomes a very personal issue I think for a lot of folks. Because even a town like Pinedale, you look at our economy…"

Which is dominated by natural gas, employing one of every two workers in the county.

For some historical perspective on this struggle, I reached Glenn Branch at the National Center for Science Education. He compares the debate over teaching climate change to teaching evolution - that debate has been going on for more than a century.

“In both cases its claimed that the areas of science are bad science. Its claimed that accepting the science will undermine our morality and our freedom.”

And Wyoming is not at all alone in opposing the standards… 38 states in total have not yet adopted the NGSS. Branch says that in an election year, politicians count on this type of issue to mobilize their base.

Back in Wyoming’s 22nd district, I asked Marti Halverson what she’s hearing from her constituents on climate change.

"Only that they don't think man made catastrophic global warming should be taught as fact."

Beyond the campaign rhetoric- the NGSS issue is not quite dead in Wyoming. Proponents hope to give the science standards another review in the next legislative session -- its fate may depend on who wins in November.

For Inside Energy, I’m Leigh Paterson.

Inside Energy is a public media collaboration focusing on America’s energy issues.

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