The American Climate Corps is a fresh initiative straight from the White House. It’s a team effort involving six government agencies: the Department of Labor, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Energy, and AmeriCorps. Focused on creating over 20,000 new jobs targeting important clean energy initiatives.
Youth climate groups, like the Sunrise Movement, have been pushing for something like the American Climate Corps for ages. This idea goes way back to when Biden was running for president in 2020. Politicians like Varshini Prakash from Sunrise and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez played a big role in shaping the policies that are now becoming a reality.
While the American Climate Corps is a major step forward, it’s not the end-all-be-all solution to climate change. There’s a lot more that needs to happen to cut down on fossil fuels and tackle the climate crisis head-on. So, while this is a great start, there’s still plenty of work ahead.
Some states have already taken the plunge and started their Climate Corps programs. California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, and Washington have been leading the charge, with more states like Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Maryland following suit.
As we see this exciting initiative take shape, it’s a reminder that together, we can make a real difference and build a brighter world for generations to come.