When he met with governors this summer from Western states wracked by wildfires and drought, President Joe Biden highlighted one way to tackle the climate crisis that goes beyond more funding for aerial firefighting and better forest management: a Civilian Climate Corps. The corps is now one of several key climate provisions that are planned for Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget bill, alongside a clean electricity program and tax credits for renewable energy. As with most things in Democrats’ budget bill, it has a fraught road to passage. High-ranking Democrats in the House and Senate disagree on how the program should be structured. But a Climate Corps would be a major win for progressive groups, including Sunrise Movement. A Civilian Climate Corps could potentially tackle two of America’s crises: climate change and a pandemic-fueled economic crisis. With millions of people still unemployed, economists are increasingly worried about the road to recovery.
By Rachel Ramirez and Ella Nilsen. CNN. September 28, 2021.
