Source: CBS 17
In a significant move towards addressing the urgent threat of climate change, North Carolina has secured a portion of a crucial $421 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This funding, which aims to reduce air pollution, enhance environmental justice, and bolster climate resilience, is seen as a vital step in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions.
Rep. Deborah Ross (D) announced this landmark grant, which will benefit North Carolina alongside South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia. Notably, North Carolina is set to receive over $50 million of this funding, which will be directed toward preserving and restoring vital coastal wetlands and forests that are essential for combating climate impacts.
The grant has been awarded to the Atlantic Conservation Coalition, a collaborative initiative involving multiple state agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the South Carolina Office of Resilience, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Ross, along with Sen. Thom Tillis and Reps. Valerie Foushee, Jeff Jackson and Wiley Nickel played a crucial role in backing the coalition’s grant application.
Ross emphasized the importance of this funding in a statement, expressing enthusiasm for the historic investment in North Carolina’s environmental future.
“I’m incredibly excited to see an historic $421 million coming to North Carolina and other mid-Atlantic states to combat the climate crisis and protect our rich environmental heritage through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program,” Ross said in a statement. “I supported our state’s application for this grant and fought to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver transformative investments that will improve air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve our environment for generations to come.”
As North Carolina grapples with the tangible effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events, this funding represents a powerful opportunity for the state to lead in sustainability efforts. This initiative not only highlights the urgency of addressing climate change but also reinforces the essential role of state and federal collaboration in creating lasting environmental solutions.
