New Agreement Between Seven Federal Agencies Provides Role for American Climate Corps
Government
Under the MOU, agencies are agreeing to the following principles:
- The American Climate Corps will reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change;
- The American Climate Corps will build upon and expand existing partnerships, while also initiating new partnerships in communities across the country;
- American Climate Corps programs will compensate members to ensure the initiative is accessible to all;
- American Climate Corps programs will provide a pathway to high-quality employment;
- The American Climate Corps will expand workforce pathways in and led by disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution; and
- The American Climate Corps will serve all of America’s communities by improving climate resilience, reducing climate pollution, and by creating economic opportunity in our urban, rural, suburban, and wilderness remote areas.
The MOU also establishes an Executive Committee – comprised of the Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, CEO of AmeriCorps, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Energy, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – that will provide leadership across the federal government for the American Climate Corps, as well as a Working Group to formally carry out and implement the initiative.
Within the first three weeks of launching the American Climate Corps, more than 40,000 people, about two-thirds of whom are ages 18-35, expressed interest in joining the initiative. The American Climate Corps is on track to establish the first cohort of members in the summer of 2024.
Last year, Secretary Gina Raimondo announced a Department Administrative Order (DAO) establishing the Department of Commerce Climate Council to coordinate and oversee the implementation of integrating climate considerations into the Department’s policies, strategic planning, and programs, and to provide specific recommendations to the Secretary on addressing the climate crisis.