As our country continues to grapple with the unprecedented challenge of climate change, a new generation has emerged to tackle the crisis and make our communities more resilient to extreme weather, fires, and floods, as well as to mitigate the effects of climate change through energy efficiency, conservation, and clean energy deployment. Members of the newly formed American Climate Corps (ACC) are at the forefront of a national effort to build a healthy, safe, sustainable, and resilient future for us all.
President Biden announced his intention to launch the American Climate Corps in September 2023, and recruitment began for the initiative in April 2024. As of June, more than 9,000 ACC members are hard at work tackling the climate crisis in communities across the country, while preparing for the climate resilience and clean energy jobs of the future.
To showcase and celebrate their efforts, this fall, the ACC Hub, headquartered in Washington, DC at AmeriCorps and in coordination with seven federal agencies, will travel to ACC work sites across the country. Accompanied by senior officials from across the Biden-Harris Administration, as well as other federal, state, Tribal, and local elected officials, the tour will demonstrate the scope and impact of the ACC across the nation and ignite the interest of new ACC members.
Earlier this week, the ACC Hub kicked off the multi-state tour by visiting Popham Beach State Park in Maine, where officials from the Governor’s office, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and corps members have teamed up to protect a beloved and beautiful park from aggressive coastal erosion. In Portland, ACC staff met with American Climate Corps members who are focused on monitoring sea level rise so that the city can better prepare for seasonal floods, as well as members who are leading urban forestry initiatives that will increase tree cover in low-income neighborhoods. During our visit, the team also sat down with ACC members, representatives of municipal governments, the Mayor of Portland and members of the Governor’s office to discuss workforce development strategies and collaboration in support of Maine’s climate corps across government entities within the state.
American Climate Corps members and staff on the steps of Portland City Hall, 9/10/24
Over the next several weeks, the tour will continue to showcase the dedicated members of the ACC, innovative climate solutions, and the partnerships that support this work. Visits will feature such activities as swearing-in ceremonies, trainings, press conferences and announcements, service projects, and/or facilitated discussions. The schedule of events includes:
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Sept. 13: Flagstaff, Arizona
Focus: Climate resilience, climate education, urban agriculture
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Sept. 19: Fairhope, Alabama
Focus: Ecosystem recovery, conservation and coastal habitat restoration
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Sept. 19: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Focus: Urban forestry
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Sept. 24: Cherokee, North Carolina
Focus: Conservation at a Jobs Corps Civilian Conservation Center
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Sept. 28: Washington, District of Columbia
Focus: National Public Lands Day and youth corps
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Oct 8 - 9: Duluth and Saint Paul, Minnesota
Focus: Food systems solutions with the Fond du Lac Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, low-carbon transportation in St. Paul
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Oct. 22: Detroit metro area, Michigan
Focus: Energy efficiency, clean energy deployment
Additional events are expected to be added to the tour.
The fall ACC tour represents a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the work of the ACC and inspire more young Americans to serve their communities in support of conservation, stewardship, clean energy, preparedness, recovery, and educational outreach to advance climate solutions. If you’re interested in learning more about the fall ACC tour, contact acc@americorps.gov or follow our Instagram and X pages. To learn more about the ACC and new position openings, visit climatecorps.gov/join