Farallon Strategies is thrilled to announce the launch of a new partnership between state climate corps programs and the American Climate Corps. This partnership is a result of months of conversations that we have been coordinating on behalf of America’s Service Commissions (ASC) and their Climate Working Group.
The ASC Climate Working Group, which Farallon Strategies has facilitated since 2021, has a strong community of practice for those states who have been leading on state climate corps initiatives. These state climate corps have been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss lessons learned, share progress, and collectively explore new approaches to best fit their states. A number of the programs and networks within the group have already been linking indirectly to the newly established American Climate Corps. This new partnership takes the Working Group’s efforts to another level by formally connecting state initiatives to the American Climate Corps and creating a mutually supporting environment for success of climate corps nationally.
This important partnership will leverage the momentum, experience, and successes of existing state climate corps programs and networks, and the reach, funding, and vision of the American Climate Corps, to provide even greater benefits for participants and the communities they serve.
The American Climate Corps takes flight
For those not as steeped in this work, the American Climate Corps (ACC) was launched in September of 2023. The ACC builds on the New Deal era Civilian Conservation Corps approach, by providing young adults with skills-based training while tackling pressing community issues. You could think of the ACC as updating the Civilian Conservation Corps for our current environmental landscape, by focusing corps members’ efforts on clean energy and climate resilience. In addition, the ACC is improving on the Civilian Conservation Corps’ historical racial and economic biases by prioritizing equity and environmental justice in who, where, and how the program serves America. Since launching, an incredible array of existing placement opportunities have already been listed on the ACC portal, including roles for corps members restoring natural habitats, improving energy efficiency in communities, and educating and engaging the public on sustainable practices.
State Climate Corps and the ACC Team Make Commitments to Success
This partnership is starting with twelve states who have already formally launched state-level climate corps initiatives, linking their state climate goals with their service activities. By formerly coordinating state and federal climate corps efforts, this partnership will strengthen ACC efforts, as states have long been innovators in conservation and climate-focused service efforts. We also hope this partnership yields significant state level benefits by:
- Increasing federal funding to states by making it easier to know about, and engage with, climate funds that can be applied to service programs.
- Better aligning ACC activities with community needs by leveraging state expertise to strengthen the reach and impact of the ACC.
- Inspiring new states to launch their own climate corps initiatives, creating a unified and powerful force for climate action across the country.
To cement this partnership, the federal government and state climate corps have committed to working closely together to enhance program implementation, share resources and successful frameworks, and increase awareness and engagement with the American Climate Corps. This collaboration will involve monthly coordination meetings, joint communication efforts, and streamlined recruitment processes, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to building a resilient climate workforce.
Farallon Strategies is Excited to Continue our Support
Since 2020, Farallon Strategies has developed and supported state climate corps initiatives in the United States and beyond. We have worked with individual state efforts in Washington, North Carolina, Michigan, and Florida, and supported initiatives in Colorado, and the southeast, while advising parallel efforts in Australia, Canada, and the European Union. More significantly, since 2021 we have been fortunate to support ASC with facilitating their Climate Working Group of state commissions dedicated to identifying, developing, and implementing national service based climate programs. As part of this work, Farallon Strategies compiled and launched a State Climate Corps Resource Hub that serves as a comprehensive tool for developing statewide climate corps initiatives. The Hub includes three parts:
- Profiles of existing state climate corps
- A resource library, and a
- Toolkit of articles that offers practical guidance, examples, and supporting resources for building effective climate corps programs.
It was in-part through our technical assistance and facilitation role, and our efforts to lift up state climate corps as an important element of state and national climate efforts, that this state and federal ACC partnership was created.
Michael McCormick, President of Farallon Strategies, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “This collaboration between state climate corps and the American Climate Corps represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to address climate change while creating a workforce ready to tackle challenges in communities across the United States. .”
Kif Scheuer, Director of National Service, added: “The State-Federal American Climate Corps Partnership is an exciting opportunity to scale up climate action through national service. We are proud of the work we’ve done to help states stand up climate corps, and we look forward to continuing to work with the American Climate Corps and our state partners to create impactful programs that align with both state and national climate goals.”
Looking Ahead
Farallon Strategies remains committed to supporting the growth and success of climate corps initiatives within states and nationwide. We look forward to continuing our work with America’s Service Commissions, the American Climate Corps Team, and the Biden-Harris Administration to build a resilient, sustainable future for all.
To learn more about the State-Federal American Climate Corps Partnership and our State Climate Corps Toolkit, visit our Climate Corps Resource Hub.
