Sierra Club Encourages Applications to the 2,000 New American Climate Corps Positions

TRIANGLE, VA – The White House today announced new developments relating to the American Climate Corps (ACC), including 2,000 new positions, new career-building opportunities, and three new state-based climate corps programs. 

Highlights from the announcement include:

• There is a new ACC website and application portal for the 2,000 open positions. The positions are hosted by hundreds of organizations across 36 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Available positions involve a variety of work in conservation, climate resilience and clean energy, such as forestry technician, trail crew, and cultural resource management. The website will continue to update with new positions over time.
• ACC members will have access to TradesFutures curriculum while serving in the corps, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management expanded eligibility for the Pathways Programs so qualifying ACC service will count.
• Illinois, New Mexico, and Vermont are launching state-based climate corps programs, which will coordinate with the ACC. This is in addition to the 10 states that already have climate corps programs.

In response, Jackie Ostfeld, campaign director for Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All, released the following statement: 

“The American Climate Corps is reinvigorating youth involvement in climate and corps work by providing thousands of new opportunities to earn a living protecting our planet. That these wide-ranging opportunities are happening in their backyards to address the climate issues impacting them directly will only make the program more accessible and relevant to our young people.

“This is a timely announcement from the White House as our economy continues to rebound and youth around the nation make plans for the summer. The ACC will be a chance for many of them to spend the summer outdoors while opening pathways to long-term careers in the conservation and climate sectors.”