On September 20th, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service had secured funding to create the Climate Action Corps. This initiative will enlist 25 members to work on projects that will increase the state's resilience against climate change disasters.
The movement started in 2020 in California when Governor Gavin Newsom founded the first Climate Action Corps. The campaign has been gaining momentum, and on September 20th, 2023, North Carolina was one of 5 states to announce the creation of their own Climate Action Corps, making North Carolina the 10th state to be a part of this initiative.
According to a press release from Governor Cooper’s Office, projects for the Corps include managing urban heat islands, planting trees to improve air quality and store carbon, promoting prescribed burns to combat wildfires, building living shorelines, mitigating flood risks, and promoting community gardens. The Corps is hoping to focus its service in areas that are most affected by climate change, and “advance climate actions that engage communities, cultivate change, and leave a lasting impact on North Carolina.” Those serving in the Corps can earn up to $30,000 a year.
Governor Cooper has made other efforts to combat climate change in the past. In January 2022, he signed Executive Order 246, which affirmed the state’s commitment to a clean energy economy and outlined a plan to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. He also signed Executive Order 271, which focused on the transition to electric vehicles, as well as Executive Order 218, which affirmed commitment to wind power and clean energy.
Sources:
CA Government Website:
News Observer:
NC Governor's Website:
NC Government Website:
WRAL News:
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