State offers paid Climate Action Corps roles and launches 'Climate Action Counts' to mobilize Californians

A staff member at a state briefing said California is inviting residents to join what was described as the state’s first Climate Action Corps, offering paid positions and financial assistance for college students to support community climate work.

The initiative, which a staff member said comes from the governor’s office, pairs paid service opportunities with a public engagement strand called Climate Action Counts. “The initiative from governor Newsom's office is actually the first state level service corps in the entire country that's inviting everybody to fight climate change in your own way and on your own time,” the staff member said.

The staff member described program options ranging from yearlong placements to one-time activities at home. “So whether it's composting at home or starting a community garden, the state is offering paid positions for large groups and even financial help for college students,” the staff member said. The program’s outreach strand asks Californians to take actions at different time commitments: a year with Climate Corps or an hour at home, the presenter said, adding: “our hope is really to engage everybody.”

No funding amounts, application deadlines, or administrative details were specified in the briefing. The staff member did not provide a timeline for when positions would be posted or which agencies would administer paid placements.

Officials framed the effort as a combination of formal, paid service roles and lower-commitment actions residents can take at home. The briefing did not include any formal votes, motions, or directives recorded in the transcript.

For residents seeking more information, the staff member said the programs are intended to offer both organized service roles and at-home options; the transcript did not include contact details or a web address for applications.