Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator | https://en.wikipedia.org/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AmeriCorps have announced the launch of the Environmental Justice Climate Corps, a new initiative introduced as part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps. This announcement was made on September 25 during Climate Week NYC.
This partnership will support over 250 AmeriCorps VISTA members nationwide over three years, with each member completing a one-year term of service. It is the largest environmental partnership in AmeriCorps’ history and marks EPA’s first nationwide service effort. The initiative aims to address climate issues and promote environmental justice while creating pathways to middle-class jobs.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan and AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith will announce the program during their upcoming Climate Week NYC 2024 Solutions House panel.
“Our partnership is a first-of-its-kind effort within the federal government to expand pathways into environmental justice careers,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.“This program will create opportunities for young people through President Biden’s American Climate Corps that will help folks in overburdened communities access and benefit from historic funding secured under the President’s Investing in America agenda.”
“Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the most severe harms of climate change – whether that’s air pollution, extreme temperatures, or flooding,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. “Through this groundbreaking partnership with EPA, we will target resources to underserved communities where they are needed most, while putting hundreds of young people from those communities on a path to environmental justice careers.”
Members of the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will receive a living allowance equivalent to more than $25 per hour throughout their year of service and reimbursement for selected living expenses. They will also benefit from the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award valued at $7,395 in FY24 and streamlined pathways into certain federal jobs, along with mentorship and professional development opportunities.
The program seeks participants from communities disproportionately affected by environmental justice challenges who have an interest in pursuing careers in this field.
The Environmental Justice Climate Corps is part of the broader American Climate Corps initiative aimed at providing skills-based training for good-paying careers in clean energy and climate resilience sectors. The American Climate Corps plans to mobilize over 20,000 Americans in its first year.
Applications for the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will open in early 2025, with its first cohort expected to start later that year. Interested individuals can sign up for updates on EPA’s Environmental Justice Climate Corps Program website.
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