Federal government awards $74.9 million in projects serving nearly 100 Alaska Native communities on the front lines of climate change
August 1, 2024
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have recommended over $74.9 million in projects serving nearly 100 Alaska Native communities statewide per an announcement from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo made last week. According to the statement, awards are being made under the Biden Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
“This is the single largest federal grant focused on climate resilience in Alaska Native communities in state history. The recommendation of this funding not only acknowledges Alaska’s Tribes as the rightful leaders in climate change and adaptation but also equips us with the resources necessary to start meeting the infrastructure needs of the many environmentally threatened communities throughout the state,” said Natasha Singh, ANTHC Interim President and CEO. “Baasee’ to the many leaders at NOAA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Alaska’s Congressional Delegation for championing this historic funding.”
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium will administer funding and projects through the Climate Initiatives Program within ANTHC Environmental Health and Engineering.
“ANTHC’s Climate Initiatives Program seeks to partner with communities to find healthy and resilient ways to adapt to our changing environment,” said Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer, Director of ANTHC Climate Initiatives Program. “The climate impact on physical health is visible and measurable. These impacts disrupt our ways of living and food sovereignty. The recommendation made earlier today recognizes that fact and dramatically increases our collective ability to address the impacts of a changing climate in the places that need it and will feel it most. Quyanaq for this transformational investment into the Tribal communities around Alaska.”
“The inspiration for this vision, and the foundation for achieving it, is based on the strength and resiliency of Alaska Native cultures. The projects will focus on three major adaptation actions: 1) establishing a community climate risk assessment program; 2) expanding statewide Tribal adaptation technical assistance; and 3) networking and knowledge sharing. This project is expected to serve nearly 100 Alaska Native communities statewide,” according to the statement released by NOAA and the Biden-Harris Administration.