The Biden-Harris Administration is taking significant steps to progress the American Climate Corps initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to train the future workforce in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience. The initiative also aims to provide good-paying union jobs to its participants.
Seven federal agencies – the Departments of Commerce, the Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and AmeriCorps – are entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of this commitment. The MOU will act as a blueprint for this multiagency initiative, outlining the mission, goals, priorities, and next steps for implementing President Biden’s American Climate Corps.
Starting in January, senior Administration officials will host a series of virtual listening sessions. These sessions aim to gather insights directly from potential American Climate Corps applicants and partners, including labor unions, educational institutions, employer partners, and state, local, and Tribal governments. The feedback from these sessions will inform the implementation of this historic new initiative.
Recently, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year, $15 million interagency agreement to establish the Forest Corps. This initiative seeks to connect people from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation, and enhance the health and resilience of national forests and grasslands. The first cohort of 80 members is scheduled to begin work next summer.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of training the next generation of forest managers and leaders to care for these landscapes amid increasing climate-related threats.
Under the MOU, the agencies agreed on several principles. These include a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change, building upon and expanding existing partnerships, ensuring accessibility through compensation, providing a pathway to high-quality employment, and expanding workforce pathways in disadvantaged communities. The American Climate Corps also aims to serve all of America’s communities by improving climate resilience, reducing climate pollution, and creating economic opportunities across urban, rural, suburban, and wilderness areas.
The MOU also establishes an Executive Committee and a Working Group to provide leadership across the federal government for the American Climate Corps and to formally implement the initiative.
In the first three weeks since the launch of the American Climate Corps, over 40,000 people, two-thirds of whom are aged 18-35, have expressed interest in joining the initiative. The American Climate Corps is set to establish its first cohort of members by the summer of 2024.
This initiative marks a significant step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to combat climate change and build a resilient, sustainable future. By training and employing the next generation of climate resilience workers, the American Climate Corps aims to make a lasting impact on the nation’s approach to environmental conservation and clean energy.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.