Portland, Maine, Head Light. Photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash.
The Maine state department of education is introducing the Maine Seal of Climate Literacy, according to a March 6, 2026, press release.
Participating school administrative units in the state are authorized to grant the seal to graduating students who take "two high school courses with a focus on climate and environmental literacy concepts and standards" and "complete an experiential project that demonstrates and publicly communicates their understanding of environmental literacy, green career exploration, and/or place-based climate action."
The Maine program is based on a similar program in Colorado, which was established by the legislature in 2024, as NCSE previously reported. Since then, the legislatures of California, Hawaii, and Minnesota have also considered similar climate literacy measures, although none have been enacted so far. The Maine program, however, was established by the Maine department of education.
The Maine program is currently in a pilot phase, in which "[p]articipating schools and students will test the design as it is currently written and provide feedback." It will launch statewide in September 2026.
