(Washington, D.C. | Tuesday, December 12, 2023) – This week, at COP28, the Peace Corps unveiled its Strategy to Secure a Resilient Global Future, a forward leaning plan to the agency’s work to promote climate resiliency in partnership with, and at the invitation of, 63 countries around the world. The strategy positions the agency to recognize and combat the impacts of the changing global environment on the communities where Volunteers serve and intentionally make its operations more sustainable.

For over six decades, the Peace Corps has contributed at the community level to strengthen resilience and adaptation capacities. This plan outlines the next chapter of the agency’s efforts to expand climate literacy across each of the programmatic sectors in which two year and response volunteers work.

"As stewards of this one planet we share, each of us within the global community has a responsibility to forge a path that addresses today’s challenges and prepares us for a sustainable future,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “The Peace Corps has a long history of supporting communities around the world as we adapt to a changing global environment. Our newly released strategy is a testament to that commitment, aiming to strengthen global resilience and foster a new generation of conservation leaders.”

The Peace Corps commitment to a sustainable future is outlined through the strategy’s three strategic objectives: Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure and Operations, Fostering a Culture of Sustainability, and Programming that Supports Resilient, and Sustainable Development. Through these strategic objectives, the agency identifies ambitious, but achievable, goals that are intended to drive a culture of resilience and sustainability at home and abroad. Key goals include:

• 100% of Peace Corps Volunteers trained in adaptation and resilience by 2025: Increasing Peace Corps Volunteer knowledge of climate change and basic climate science will be a catalyst for positive impacts on programming activities. Additionally, the agency will train Virtual Service Pilot participants, and participants and partner institutions in World Wise Schools Global Connection and Peace Corps Prep programs, with an aim of preparing rising generations for impactful service in a resilient global future.
  
• 100% carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030, including 50% on a 24/7 basis: This goal aims to significantly reduce the agency's carbon footprint, contributing to a global effort to mitigate climate change.
  
• 100% zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) acquisitions by 2035, including 100% light-duty acquisitions by 2027: Transitioning to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) underscores the Peace Corps' commitment to sustainable solutions. This includes acquiring only light-duty zero-emission vehicles by 2027, reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable climate future.
  
• Establish permanent staff capacity to lead sustainability, adaptation, and resilience actions by 2025: Continuing commitment to securing a resilient global future, the Peace Corps will act to create several permanent roles with direct responsibility for leading and assessing progress on sustainability, adaptation, and resilience at the agency.
  
• 50+ countries host programming to support adaptation and resilience by 2025: In collaboration with a public commitment made in 2022, 50 Peace Corps host countries will engage in new or enhanced programming to support adaptation and resilience by 2025.

“This strategy is not the beginning of our work to secure a more resilient future, it’s the next step,” continued Director Spahn. “We are committed to this work at a structural, operational, and programmatic level and this plan is an invitation for more people to join us in the journey to a resilient future.”

In support of the strategy, the agency has launched several initiatives designed to build capacity in the communities that Peace Corps serves. These programmatic initiatives include:

• Blue Pacific Youth Initiative: Through a partnership with USAID, Peace Corps Volunteers will work with youth and local partners to elevate climate literacy, bolster community adaptation projects, and reinforce disaster mitigation plans.
  
• Integrate Adaptation & Resilience into Sector Projects: Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff will apply a climate lens to activities in Health, Youth in Development, Community and Economic Development, Education, Agriculture and Environment Sectors.
  
• Develop Adaptation and Resilience-Specific Assignments: The agency will create Peace Corps Response positions and Virtual Service opportunities that support host countries in addressing adaptation and resilience at institutional, local, regional, or national levels.

Any American who is interested in supporting the agency’s work to create a resilient future should visit peacecorps.gov/bold and search for opportunities in the climate and environment sectors. To review a full copy of the Strategy to Secure a Resilient Global Future 2024 – 2030 report, visit HERE.