Climate and Early Childhood: Building a Resilient Future

Together, we can create a safer, healthier future for young children in San Mateo County.

Build Up SMC is calling attention to the importance of climate resiliency in early care and learning facilities and driving action to protect our educators and youngest learners.

  • Climate change is already affecting our communities, and young children are among the most vulnerable. They are the least responsible for climate change but will live with its impacts the longest. Extreme heat, wildfires, and poor air quality pose serious health risks, while most child care facilities lack the resources to adapt. Addressing these challenges isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about equity, public health, and ensuring safe early learning environments for all children. Time outdoors is vital for young children’s mental and physical health, boosting creativity, focus, and motor skills while fostering exploration and play. Regular access to green spaces improves language, problem-solving, and reduces obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Yet, many preschoolers lack sufficient outdoor time, making climate-resilient outdoor spaces even more critical for their development and well-being.

  • Children are more susceptible to climate-related health risks due to their developing immune systems and higher respiratory rates:

    • Extreme heat and poor air quality are worsening, with urban areas up to 7°F hotter and childhood asthma costing the U.S. $80 billion annually.

    • 40% of small businesses, including child care providers, do not reopen after climate disasters like wild fires, disrupting families’ access to care.

    • Environmental health costs in California total $254 million annually, with long effects exceeding $10 billion. Urban heat islands like Ravenswood, East Palo Alto, and North Fair Oaks often face the worst impacts.

    Young children are also more vulnerable to pre-term birth, heatstroke, and asthma, with displacement from climate disasters increasing risks of trauma and attachment disorders.

  • Most child care facilities operate on less than 1% margins, meaning they lack funds for climate resilience upgrades. Yet, outside the home, young children spend the most time in these settings—making it critical to ensure safe, climate-ready environments.

    Build Up for San Mateo County is leading the charge by:

    • Creating Climate-Resilient Child Care Facilities: Expanding tree canopy coverage, adding shaded outdoor spaces, and upgrading air filtration to protect children from extreme heat and pollution.

    • Strengthening Preparedness & Policy: Equipping child care providers with emergency plans, cooling stations, and backup power while ensuring child care is included in local climate action policies and funding initiatives.

    Building Multi-Sector Partnerships: Collaborating with environmental groups, health agencies, businesses, and policymakers to drive sustainable, climate-resilient solutions for child care.

How Build Up SMC is taking ACTION!

Canopy Tree Planting Pilot

In partnership with Canopy, Build Up SMC launched a tree planting pilot in the spring of 2025 to address tree canopy deficiencies in priority zip codes. By planting trees at child care centers, we aim to:

  • Lower temperatures and create shaded outdoor learning spaces.

  • Improve air quality and reduce heat-related risks.

  • Engage communities in urban forestry and sustainability education.

The first tree planting event will take place in Ravenswood on May 17, followed by another later in the year. Learn more about the spring tree planting event.

Early Childhood Climate Action Plan

Build Up is creating a countywide Early Childhood Climate Action Plan to ensure young children and child care providers are part of San Mateo County’s broader climate resilience strategy. This plan includes:

  • Research on climate impacts at child care facilities, particularly in under-resourced areas.

  • Strategies for adapting child care centers to withstand heat, air pollution, and climate disruptions.

  • Policy recommendations to increase funding and access to climate-resilient upgrades.

  • Cross-sector engagement with government, environmental groups, and public health experts.

Click here to learn more or read the U.S. Early Years Climate Action Plan by Elliot Haspel, which inspired and served as a model for the San Mateo County Climate Action Plan.

Multi-Sector Collaboration: The Key to Success

Climate resilience in child care requires collaboration across multiple sectors. Build Up for San Mateo County is working with:

  • Government and Policy Leaders to partner with agencies like the San Mateo County Sustainability Department to advocate for child care-friendly climate policies and funding.

  • Environmental and Public Health Organizations like Canopy and Climate Resilient Communities to implement green infrastructure, improve air quality, and enhance disaster preparedness.

  • Businesses and Philanthropic Partners like the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to invest in climate-resilient child care solutions and long-term infrastructure support.

  • Child Care Networks and Initiatives like First 5, 4C’s, the Child Care Partnership Council, the San Mateo County Office of Education, the Child Care Blueprint, Build Up California, and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) to integrate climate resilience into early learning policies and practices.

By embedding climate resilience into early childhood infrastructure, we can protect children, support families, and build stronger communities for the future.

Resources for Child Care Providers

Build Up is also developing a one-page solutions brief and a growing library of technical assistance (TA) resources to help child care providers implement climate resilience strategies and access funding.