Resilience AmeriCrops pilot program to battle damages of climate change

A coalition of public and private organizations announced the launch of a Resilience AmeriCorps pilot program today, which will help communities better prepare and respond to stressors, such as those caused by extreme weather and other climate change symptoms.

The organizations taking part in the venture include the Corporation for National and Community Service, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Rockefeller Foundation and Cities of Service.

“EPA understands that environmentally overburdened communities are often those most in need of resources to help prepare for and respond to climate change,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “We are excited to support the new Resilience AmeriCorps pilot program and look forward to its potential for encouraging service opportunities that will meet local needs.”

The program was created in line with the Obama administration's goals on climate action, which includes building the resilience of vulnerable communities, and was originally conceptualized in a recommendation from the President’s State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

“At the Department of Energy, we are strong advocates for public-private partnerships to enhance the resilience of our Nation," DOE Deputy Energy Secretary Liz Sherwood-Randall said. “Through this initiative, we will help some of our most vulnerable communities become more resilient and get better prepared to meet the challenges of climate change and extreme weather.”