ARLINGTON, Va. – The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is excited for the launch of the American Climate Corps jobs training program announced Wednesday by the White House. Inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps that put millions to work during the Great Depression, the program will put more than 20,000 young people on pathways for careers in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation and climate resilience.
“The SCA applauds the Biden Administration for launching the American Climate Corps at such a critical time for the environment. We stand ready to take further action in tackling the climate crisis, advancing this important initiative and addressing the greatest ecological problem of our time,” said SCA President and CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon. “The American Climate Corps will not only help build the next generation of conservationists, but it will also help increase equity in the outdoors and address environmental injustices across the country.”
The effort will mobilize a new, diverse generation by putting them to work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and advancing environmental justice, all while creating pathways to high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs in the public and private sectors after they complete their paid training program. The American Climate Corps is an interagency partnership between AmeriCorps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Departments of Labor, Interior, Agriculture and Energy.
The American Climate Corps ties deeply to the SCA’s mission, as it seeks to engage a diverse cross-section of the public in building a more resilient and sustainable future for all. Specific actions include hazardous fuels reduction projects to prevent catastrophic wildfires and improving the management of our nation’s forests. The SCA’s program participants have long advanced such projects, and this year, the SCA is teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service to confront the current climate-driven wildfire crisis by launching the inaugural SCA Wildland Fire Academy this Fall.
For more than 60 years, the SCA has protected and restored public lands and natural resources while providing young people from all backgrounds with transformative, career-shaping field experiences. The SCA is poised to take further action on tackling the climate crisis, strengthening the economy and advancing social justice. The SCA is uniquely prepared to assist in forging a more sustainable, resilient and equitable nation.
