'Accelerating action': Successes, funding among discussion at MI Healthy Climate event - WWMT-TV
'Accelerating action': Successes, funding among discussion at MI Healthy Climate event
LANSING, Mich. — Hundreds of attendees gathered in Lansing as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy kicked off the 2024 "MI Healthy Climate" conference Thursday.
With a theme of "Accelerating Action," the goal of the conference was to implement Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "MI Health Climate Plan," an initiative aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition Michigan toward economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, according to the State of Michigan.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II spoke at Thursday's kick-off, announcing $32 million has been allocated for environmental projects across Michigan.
"Just yesterday we announced, for example, $20 million for environmental justice projects across the state," Gilchrist said. "Today [Thursday], I am really proud to announce though that we are following up with $12 million more dollars, one of the largest investments in these environmental justice responsive projects and communities and to the organizations that are on the ground doing the real work."
He continued, "So, whether you need grant management, whether you need help with accounting or back office, personnel, it is our job in state government to position you to be even more successful in the application process, and we are going to follow through to that success with you."
Other speakers, including Jeff Johnson, public information officer at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE, looked to share success stories, challenges, funding opportunities, and other activity related to the following:
"We want to motivate Michiganders to move always towards the goals that are in the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which is Michigan's roadmap for a prosperous, sustainable, equitable future where we reach carbon neutrality by 2050," Johnson said.
Other highlights of the ongoing conference, according to EGLE, include:
The "MI Healthy Climate" conference is slated to continue Friday at 333 E. Michigan Ave.
Related Knowledge Center: Climate legislation
The federal government and states are in the process of implementing two laws — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act — an investment of more than a trillion dollars to address climate change.