Erasmus and green cities: Towards a European youth climate action corps?

Summary:

According to a 2022 Eurobarometer survey, while two out of three young Europeans wish to contribute to the green transition through their jobs, 45 % of young Europeans lack green skills. In the United States (US), a new traineeship programme, the American Climate Corps (ACC), has been operational since June 2024. It allows young people to enter paid traineeships that provide them with important skills for green professions. Young people in the US have welcomed the initiative, which offers a chance to move from 'climate angst' to climate action. Here in Europe, an 'ecological civil service' was launched in France in the spring of 2024, in response to strong demand from young people. In April 2024, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) proposed that a pilot project be launched in the European Union (EU), following the example of the ACC programmes, offering young people traineeships to empower them with the skills needed for the green transition. In the EU, several possibilities exist for supporting youth traineeships. Meanwhile, European cities have created networks to support them in achieving their green ambitions. This briefing explores possible synergies between the existing EU youth and green cities programmes, and whether there is scope for a traineeship scheme at European level to help develop green skills for young people. This briefing has been drafted at the request of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the agreement between the European Parliament and the Committee.

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