Last week, the, Commerce Department announced funding opportunities from NOAA's $2.96 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to address the climate crisis and strengthen coastal resilience and infrastructure.
Over the next five years, NOAA’s targeted investments in the areas of habitat restoration, coastal resilience, and climate data and services will advance ongoing federal efforts toward building climate resilience.
“The climate crisis is affecting every community in the U.S. and impacting our nation’s economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The funding from NOAA will be used to support transformational projects that will help communities, especially underserved communities, build up local climate resilience and climate-ready infrastructure.”
“This funding provides NOAA and its partners with a historic opportunity to invest in the climate smart infrastructure of the future,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad. “Together, we’ll help ensure our coasts are climate-ready, our fisheries and protected resources are resilient, and our climate and data products reflect the needs of decision makers.”
NOAA said it will select high-impact projects that will incentivize investments in communities, states, and regions that can drive additional funding to complementary projects. Funded projects will support three major initiatives:
- Climate Ready Coasts will help coastal communities build the future they want to see, investing in natural infrastructure projects that build coastal resilience, create jobs, store carbon, remove marine debris, and restore habitat. ($1.467 billion over five years)
- Climate Data and Services will support a whole-of-government effort to address the climate crisis by getting critical information and tools in the hands of decision-makers, particularly to address floods, wildfire, drought, and ocean health. ($904 million over five years)
- Fisheries and Protected Resources will advance efforts to restore important fisheries habitat and promote community economic development. ($592 million over five years)
The investments will be scalable, leverage partnerships, and be responsive to the need for better climate information, NOAA said.
Last week's announcement highlights Notice of Funding Opportunities for the coming year focused on habitat restoration, coastal resilience, and marine debris as part of the Climate Ready Coasts initiative including:
- Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants ($85 million)
- Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities ($10 million)
- Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants ($35 million)
- National Estuarine Research Reserve System Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants ($12 million)
- Marine Debris Removal ($56 million)
- Marine Debris Challenge Competition ($16 million)offsite link
- Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions ($3 million)offsite link
By supporting locally led efforts to restore and conserve coastal habitat, these investments help advance the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to conserve, connect and restore 30% of lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030, NOAA said.
