San Francisco to relaunch climate volunteer program through state Climate Action Corps

San Francisco officials announced the relaunch of a local climate volunteer program that will join the state's California Climate Action Corps, organizers said at Community Climate Action Day at McLaren Park.

Tyrone Jew, director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, said the announcement marks a coordinated restart: "I'm pleased with Amar and Mayor Lurie that today also marks the relaunch of our own climate volunteer program. Mayor Lurie is signing on to the governor's campaign through the office of volunteers," Jew said.

The nut graf: the relaunch signals a stepped-up volunteer effort tied to a statewide program meant to place and support volunteers and year-long fellows in local climate work. Officials and participating volunteers said the effort aims to expand planting, community engagement and on-the-ground projects while connecting local efforts to a larger state initiative.

City officials framed the relaunch as part of a broader push to rebuild community-based climate action. Jared Blumenfeld, who helped create California's Climate Action Corps and who helped organize San Francisco's first World Environment Day 20 years ago, said the program channels individual action into sustained civic work. "We're going to join the chorus of communities up and down the state of California that are rolling up their sleeves alongside us to say that climate matters," Blumenfeld said.

California Climate Action Corps members and fellows described how placements work in practice. A fellow identified as Lily told the crowd she was placed at the San Francisco Environment Department after graduating college: "At the start, I shadowed engagement events, sat in on racial equity scans, and joined long calls with community partners... Every project was shaped by the voices most impacted." Her remarks were offered as an example of how the state program places young people into local government and nonprofit roles to support outreach, native-planting and equitable programming.

Organizers asked volunteers to sign up through the city's and state's volunteer channels. Tyrone Jew and other speakers emphasized the relaunch was an administrative commitment backed by the mayor's office and the governor's volunteer initiative; the announcement did not include a council vote or a ballot measure. Event organizers said logistical details and next steps for placements and training will be provided by SF Environment and the mayor's office of volunteers.

The event tied the relaunch to a larger message about civic responsibility and corporate accountability. Jared Blumenfeld urged volunteers to both take direct action and push for corporate changes: "Let's also make sure the corporations get cleaned up so they're not polluting the planet," he said.

Organizers encouraged volunteers to learn more about the program at climateactioncounts.com and through SF Environment's volunteer pages. No budget figures or specific placement counts were announced at the event.

Looking ahead, speakers said the relaunch will link San Francisco volunteer projects to the state program and to local departments including SF Environment and Recreation and Parks.