UPDATE (September 20, 2023): President Biden took executive action to launch the American Climate Corps. This is a big victory for our youth, climate, jobs, and future—and something Evergreen first called Congress and President Biden to do in April 2021. The Climate Corps is an opportunity to provide training and good-paying union jobs to the next generation of clean energy workers with an emphasis on bringing along communities that have been historically underserved or left behind.
This past April, Evergreen released a memo titled Building the Civilian Climate Corps, which describes how to build a new CCC that puts Americans to work fighting the climate crisis. Since then, we have been working hard, alongside partners from across the climate movement, to make sure bold investments in an ambitious Climate Corps were included as the Senate negotiated an infrastructure package.
And on July 14, we got great news: funding for the CCC was included in Senate Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. To celebrate, we raised a pint and dove into policy details with three allies who have been leading the charge for a Civilian Climate Corps. Moderated by Evergreen Campaigns Director Lena Moffitt, the conversation featured:
- Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
- Sunrise Movement Advocacy Director Lauren Maunus
- Green City Force Executive Director Tonya Gayle
Here are five top moments from our virtual happy hour that help break down the Civilian Climate Corps and why it’s such a big deal.