Climate Workers Wanted: Adapting Jobs to Meet Climate Challenges
In American Samoa, a remote Pacific island chain, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe. When Alexsandra Sesepasara returned home after a decade of military service, she quickly realized that rising seas and worsening storms were exacerbating old problems and creating new ones. Saltwater intrusion into the islands' freshwater supply was disrupting daily life, leading to school closures and the temporary shutdown of hospital services.
Faced with these challenges, Sesepasara discovered that the island's workforce was not equipped to address the growing threats posed by climate change. However, a new federal initiative is helping to change that. The American Samoa Power Authority, where Sesepasara works as a water resources engineer, is one of nine entities across the U.S. receiving funds to train workers in climate resilience.
This training is part of a broader effort under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to adapt jobs across all sectors to the realities of climate change. Experts emphasize that every job will be affected, requiring significant changes in how workers approach their roles. The initiative in American Samoa will focus on providing technical certifications to 150 utility employees, ensuring they have the skills needed to support the island's future.
As Sesepasara and her colleagues work to safeguard their homeland, this program represents a crucial step in preparing communities across the U.S. to meet the challenges of a changing climate.
Three years ago, Alexsandra Sesepasara returned to American Samoa, a remote Pacific island chain, after serving in the military for over a decade. She joined the American Samoa Power Authority as a water resources engineer, only to find her homeland grappling with severe climate change impacts. Rising sea levels and stronger storms have led to saltwater intrusion in the islands' freshwater supply, causing school closures and disrupting essential services. Despite these challenges, Sesepasara faced a bigger problem: a shortage of workers skilled enough to tackle these climate-related issues.
To address this, the American Samoa Power Authority became one of nine entities to receive funding under a $60 million federal program aimed at training workers to handle the growing challenges posed by climate change. This initiative, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, aims to adapt jobs in various sectors to the realities of climate change. As climate experts point out, every job will be affected by climate change, requiring significant adjustments across all sectors of the economy.
In American Samoa, nearly $1.8 million will be used over the next four years to train 150 utility employees, helping them gain the skills needed to support the island’s future in the face of climate challenges. This program reflects a broader national effort to prepare the workforce for the impacts of climate change, with similar initiatives underway across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What challenges did Alexsandra Sesepasara face after returning to American Samoa?
A1: Sesepasara encountered climate change-related challenges, including rising sea levels and worsening storms that led to saltwater intrusion in the islands' freshwater supply. This caused disruptions such as school closures and limited access to essential services.
Q2: What is the $60 million federal program mentioned in the article?
A2: The program, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, provides funding to train workers to address the challenges posed by climate change. It supports initiatives like the one in American Samoa, where funds are used to train utility employees in climate resilience techniques.
Q3: How does climate change affect jobs, according to the article?
A3: Climate change is expected to impact every job sector, necessitating adjustments such as electricians learning to install solar panels or construction workers adapting to new engineering requirements. The program aims to help workers adapt their skills to these changing demands.
Q4: What specific steps are being taken in American Samoa to address climate change?
A4: American Samoa will use nearly $1.8 million in federal funding to train 150 current and future utility employees over the next four years. This training will focus on equipping them with the skills needed to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the island.
Q5: What broader efforts are being made in the U.S. to address climate-related job challenges?
A5: In addition to the funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration launched the American Climate Corps to create climate-focused jobs. Other initiatives include training programs for Indigenous workers and efforts to make communities more flood-resilient.
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