Climate Corps, the Next Generation in Action
April 20, 2018 10:32 AM
by Andrew Basmajian
This post was authored by Cris Gutierrez, Co-Chair of Climate Action Santa Monica
"Thank you for riding your bike to the Farmers Market. Do you know how big a climate action you just made?” This is a typical greeting from a Climate Corps volunteer and a common point of discussion with the young Corps leaders. The answer to the volunteer’s question is that riding your bike reduces carbon emissions by as much as 80% over driving a car.
Climate actions like riding your bike and improving the energy performance of your home can be encouraged by a friendly neighbor, particularly by a young neighbor. Thus the Climate Corps was created in 2016 as a pilot. Climate Action Santa Monica (CASM), a local community-based organization, created the Climate Corps with City Manager Rick Cole to promote active transportation and transit choices, and to help people understand the constructive climate impact those choices have. The Climate Corps is made up of college and high school students selected for paid summer internships. The program teams with the City, Metro and Los Angeles County.
Year two of the effort saw a tripling of the candidate pool, which included alumni from the 2016 pilot program. Fifteen college and high school students were selected for paid summer internships. The 2017 program cast a wide net and reached out to local neighborhoods to preview the City’s upcoming Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, focusing on energy, water, transportation, food and zero waste. Corps members received four full days of intensive training before setting out to engage in climate conversations with over 1,000 people, provide resources, and survey more than 700 respondents in face-to-face community engagement. The effort culminated in a recognition ceremony with Mayor Ted Winterer and a presentation before the City Council.
For 2018, Climate Corps is extending its community engagement beyond the summer, to stretch its reach to a broader range of diverse residents of all ages, families and neighbors, as well as students and workers. The goal is to empower people to develop all kinds of easy and fun climate-savvy habits.
See Climate Corps in action @ClimateCorps.
For more information on CASM, go to climateactionsantamonica.org.
Authored By
Andrew Basmajian
Sustainable Outreach Coordinator