Climate change is far-reaching, but some areas are more prone to its effects than others, especially coastal communities. To mitigate the impact, the federal government of the United States wants to invest $562 million into nearly 150 projects across 30 coastal states and territories to make communities and their economies more resilient.
The awards will be made through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative and funded through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. “These investments will create jobs while protecting people, communities and ecosystems from the threats of climate change, and help our nation take the steps it needs to become more resilient and build a clean energy economy,” said Gina Raimondo, secretary of the Department of Commerce, which put forward the recommendation.
The funding includes $477 million for 149 nature-based infrastructure projects intended to bolster coastal communities’ ability to respond to extreme weather events, address climate hazards, and support locally led restoration, a statement about the investment says.
Another $46 million made available through NOAA’s National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund partnership for projects that will help communities prepare for increasing coastal flooding, sea-level rise and more intense storms by improving coastal habitats. And $39.1 million will go toward planning, policy development, research, education, and engagement to protect coastal ecosystems.