American Climate Corps creates jobs for youth in rural communities - NBC Right Now
American Climate Corps creates jobs for youth in rural communities | News | nbcrightnow.com
Washington, D.C. — In February of 2021, Senators and Congressmen wrote a letter to President Biden, asking for help with more funding and support with what they called the Civilian Climate Initiative. The initiative set out to help increase investments in wildfire resiliency by giving Americans jobs that would help boost rural economies.
The 21st Century Conservation Corps Act, was first introduced in 2020 to provide funds for resources in the event of a natural disaster or health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Rural communities are facing two big challenges: struggling economies and continued wildfire threats,” said Senator Wyden. “The bottom line, creating new jobs and supporting our public lands go hand in hand.”
Alongside Sen. Wyden, 50 other senators and congressmen from the US to show how this act can help their rural communities.
In the letter, they say the recent fires in the historic city of Lahaina are an example of how these communities can be better prepared for what can happen. Biden’s response?
The Biden Administration is moving forward with the act. The American Climate Corps. It’s set to train young people on clean energy, conservation and so much more.
Within its first year, it’s expected to create about 20,000 jobs according to the White House. The overall goal of the act is to ensure public lands are restored, energy efficient technologies are implemented, creating pathways to high-quality, good-paying, clean energy and climate resilience jobs are created with the right training for those employees.
This is all part of the Administration’s Jsutive40 goal. It’s meant to prioritize communities that are often left behind and the help. The plan also includes helping tribal, state, local governments, labor unions and nonprofit services across the country.
Following Biden’s announcement in September 2023, ten states will have officially been part of the Climate Corps since 2021.
The White House launched a new website to help those interested in joining the program.
Below you will find a breakdown from the White House on the American Climate Corps:
Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”