As the Biden Administration enters its fourth year, there are concrete signs that the federal government is being more responsive to the needs of environmental justice communities in the distribution of federal resources. For instance, the government is establishing new technical assistance hubs in agencies funded under the Inflation Reduction Act. It is also moving $600 million to non-profit regranting institutions so that grassroots organizations who otherwise would be cutoff from direct federal funding now have access. The government has furthermore created a new federal interagency network so that funding opportunities for cities, states, and the climate justice movement can be better coordinated. And with the pausing the construction of 17 proposed LNG export terminals, we are also seeing the first major steps by the Biden Administration to halt the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure projects that would otherwise prove devastating to the climate.
In our view, the most effective funding is intersectional in nature -- linking climate change with other social justice issues. Our team has attended numerous federal and foundation funding webinars, and the message coming from attendees is consistent -- Let us be creative. Let us be intersectional. In this respect, the demands of the climate justice movement are having an impact. From increased federal funding for workforce development to private foundations understanding the need to build movement capacity to help connect organizations with each other, both the government and philanthropic community are stepping up to form genuine partnerships with communities and the climate justice movement to effect meaningful change. We need to seize upon these historical opportunities. It's with this theme in mind we bring you our January Climate Action Update.
What's in This Month's Update?
This month we're thrilled to highlight four movement-support grants from Mosaic, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, the Funders Network, and NDN Collective - bringing more nonprofit grant opportunities to everyone working towards local climate justice. In addition, we're sharing a new Instructional Toolkit from the Environmental Solutions Initiative, with great educational resources on climate justice + policy, and a Rural New Deal, which provides ten concrete pillars for supporting climate and economic resilience in rural communities. Read on to find technical assistance webinars if you are applying for federal grants. You'll also find examples of climate leadership on the ground: from a GND nonprofit in Duluth creating free green workforce training programs, to students in D.C. leading the charge for GND schools, to other transformational housing and transit justice policies.
If you find our Climate Action Updates helpful and inspiring, help us share out the good news. Please share this sign up link with your climate allies and colleagues!
In Solidarity,
Nina, M, Kimberlee and Nikki
Climate Justice Center Newsletter Team
