As a part of California’s comprehensive strategy to address the climate crisis, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor, created California Climate Action Corps, the country’s first state-level, climate service corps to empower all Californians to take meaningful action to safeguard the climate. California Climate Action Corps is guided by three core principles:
- Directly address and seek to mitigate climate change or otherwise contribute to climate resilience and recovery.
- Foster more equitable outcomes for the state’s disadvantaged communities.
- Create new opportunities for service and pathways into professional development.
California Climate Action Corps Fellowship leverages the power of AmeriCorps to advance climate actions that engage community members, cultivate change, and leave a lasting impact. The Fellowship places a statewide force of emerging leaders with tribal communities, nonprofits, public agencies and educational institutions to mobilize communities through volunteer engagement, climate action and education service projects focused on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency.
Structure
The California Climate Action Corps is a unique and strategic program for California Volunteers. As such, California Volunteers plays a more engaged role in implementation than in traditional programs. The commission leads the overall mission, vision, and objectives, and the program is implemented through collaboration with an intermediary grantee partner.
State connections
The commission works closely with the Governor’s office and various state agencies focused on climate, but most closely with California Natural Resources Agency (and its departments) and California Environmental Protection Agency.
Resourcing
The program is supported through state general funds.
Members in Program
400 Full-Time (for 2024-25 term)
Living Allowance
33,600 (for 2024-25 term)
Member development
Fellows complete at least 170 hours of professional development/training through a robust orientation and monthly training focused on various climate and environmental justice related topics, as well as professional development (e.g., resumes, interviewing, etc.). Fellows have the opportunity to participate in either the UC Climate Stewards certification or Bridging Divides program. Team Leaders also receive an additional certificate in volunteer engagement/management. California Volunteers and the California Volunteers Fund have also created a Corps to Career program to further support fellows in preparing for and finding jobs post-service, which includes additional professional development training; coaching; and pathways to government, nonprofit, and private jobs.
Climate metrics
- Number of community climate volunteers recruited, hours served, and increased committment to climate volunteerism.
- Number of community climate action volunteer projects undertaken.
- Number of host partners that increased ability to deliver services and/or increased climate activity in their community.
- Number of specific actions completed (trees planted, trees maintained, trees donated, native plants planted, sq. ft converted for urban greening, pounds of edible food diverted from landfills, pounds of other organic waste diverted from landfills, pounds of recovered food distributed to people in need, homes/structures protected from wildfire, acres of land treated for wildfire resiliency.
- Number of individuals receiving education or training in climate action practice and who report increased knowledge or a change in behavior or intention to change behavior.
- Number of individuals engaged through climate-related outreach.
Inter Program Coordination
Some existing environmental programs have been or continue to be partners of the California Climate Action Corps. Some shared events and trainings across programs have occurred. Member and partner recruitment and referral is supported to some extent across existing programs.
Branding Approach
At present, CCAC is a stand-alone program with placements with dozens of host partners throughout the state. The commission designed the branding (logos, descriptive language, recruitment toolkits, etc.) and branding guidance for implementing grantee and host partner use. All service members are considered California Climate Action Corps fellows, and now also American Climate Corps members. All service members in California are considered part of the California Service Corps.
Employer role
Employers can present at trainings, join virtual and in-person job fairs, and formally partner with the program through the Corps to Career program. This program includes a tailored job board for service members where employers can market their jobs to service members and offer support through the process, prioritization for screenings, etc. CV and Corps to Career are also working with state agencies to find ways to streamline the process for service members to meet eligibility requirements for civil service jobs that are most inline with service member interest and experience.
Structure
The California Climate Action Corps is a unique and strategic program for California Volunteers. As such, California Volunteers plays a more engaged role in implementation than in traditional programs. The commission leads the overall mission, vision, and objectives, and the program is implemented through collaboration with an intermediary grantee partner.
Post Service Outcomes
- Number of fellows currently in a climate-related position/field.
- Current positionCurrent role.
- Whether the position was obtained within the first six-months following the fellowship.
- Skills, capabilities, or experiences gained through the fellowship that have been useful in securing the position.
- Impact serving in CCAC had on 1) advancing their career and/or securing full-time work or education; 2) interest or likelihood of going into public service; and 3) likelihood of continuing to pursue climate-related volunteerism or service opportunities in their community.
