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The Biden administration is about to get more young Americans working for the planet.
Last week, the White House announced it’s launching an American Climate Corps. The workforce training and service program aims to get young people ready for climate and clean energy fields. It will put an initial cohort of 20,000 to work installing clean energy technologies, restoring coastal wetlands to prevent flooding, and taking on other jobs in climate-vulnerable communities.
It’s all reminiscent of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, which hired young people to fight forest fires, build wildlife refuges, and take on other environmental jobs during the Great Depression.
Flash forward to the 21st century, and a Climate Corps has been a priority for Democratic lawmakers. The Biden administration initially proposed the work program as part of its Build Back Better infrastructure plan, but it was left out of the Inflation Reduction Act. But by combining programs and funding authorized in the climate law and other legislation, the White House has created something pretty close to the program it’s been working toward for years, Inside Climate News reports.
There are a lot of details we don’t yet know about the American Climate Corps, including how interested workers can apply and how much they’d be paid. But for now, there’s a White House website where you can share if you’re interested in joining or otherwise helping the burgeoning corps out.
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