On a recent Wednesday, the current administration declared the launch of a government-funded initiative aimed at creating jobs in the realm of “environmental justice.”
The “Environmental Justice Climate Corps,” a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AmeriCorps, is a new $25 million venture aimed to provide career opportunities in the merged fields of environmentalism and progressive social justice.
This announcement is part of the broader American Climate Corps program initiated by the White House through executive action after it did not pass in the legislation that turned into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a central climate policy endorsed by President Joe Biden.
The White House revealed that the Environmental Justice Climate Corps would actively engage over 250 members from the American Climate Corps for the next three years. Their role will involve offering technical support to grassroots organizations within communities focused on environmental justice.
The goal is to facilitate these communities in undertaking initiatives that curb pollution, enhance resilience to climate change, promote public health and safety, and bolster their ability to tackle issues related to environmental and climate justice. Participants in the program will be compensated with an allowance equivalent to an approximate hourly wage of $25, in addition to receiving a subsidy for certain living costs.
An EPA spokesperson communicated to the Daily Caller News Foundation, “Environmental Justice Climate Corps members will receive on-the-ground training on environmental justice issues, federal funding opportunities, and federal funding processes to support communities that have historically been overburdened by pollution.”
They further elaborated on how members might conduct workshops to enlighten local nonprofit organizations about potential federal funding for clean energy projects and assist communities in managing and reporting on federally funded initiatives.
Michael Regan, the EPA Administrator, emphasized that this initiative marks a novel collaboration within the federal government to foster career opportunities in environmental justice. He stated, “Our partnership is a first-of-its-kind effort within the federal government to expand pathways into environmental justice careers. 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.”
Regan, alongside AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith, plans to further discuss the novel initiative at an upcoming event during Climate Week in New York City, which attracts numerous leaders and influencers from the political and business sectors.
The concept of the American Climate Corps encountered hurdles in its initial stages, facing opposition from Republicans who were concerned about its financial implications, as reported by The Associated Press.
Despite its exclusion from the IRA, prominent Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey, have been vocal advocates for establishing the corps through executive measures, as highlighted by the AP.
