U.S. Commerce Department advocates climate resilience funding

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently recommended $562 million in funding for projects the agency maintains would aid communities and the economy with climate change resilience.

Authorities recently outlined 149 projects across 30 coastal states and territories in accordance with the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, per officials, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is moving aggressively to tackle the climate crisis and help communities that are experiencing increased flooding, storm surge, and more frequent extreme weather events,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “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.”

Funding recommendations include $477 million for high-impact natural infrastructure projects designed to bolster coastal communities’ ability to respond to extreme weather events, pollution, and marine debris; and $46 million in additional funding through the NOAA National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund partnership for projects assisting communities in preparation for increased coastal flooding, rising sea-levels rise and more intense storms.

“This crucial federal investment will help coastal communities in every corner of the Empire State, from the shores of Lake Ontario to the Hudson River, tackle the climate crisis by cleaning our waterways and bolstering critical infrastructure – all while putting New Yorkers to work and boosting our economy,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to passage as Majority Leader, it was game-changing investments in climate-ready initiatives like these that I had in mind.”