Richmond Mayor announces $865,000 grant to fight climate change - WWBT
Richmond Mayor announces $865,000 grant to fight climate change
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond’s Mayor is trying to get ahead of the adverse effects of climate change. Tuesday, Levar Stoney announced $865,000 in grant money to help create more green space, help those fighting hunger on city streets and much more.
“We have often struggled with getting grants funds and etc.,” said Duron Chavis, Happily Natural Day Executive Director.
Duron Chavis is leading a fight against climate change by providing access and knowledge at Sanfoka Community Orchard off Covington Road.
“The lack of tree canopy, the lack of access to sidewalks, the lack of access to green space, the lack of access to food, this is a great opportunity for us to move our communities forward that have been marginalized the most,” said Chavis.
The grant money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act for groups fighting for environmental justice.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to all of us,” said Mayor Levar Stoney, City of Richmond.
Stoney says The Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program will fund jobs and workforce training for climate resilience and create green spaces and recreational facilities.
Those in charge of the program also say the money could be used to build sidewalks and other improvements so people can have access. It can also be used to create food banks and other facilities to reduce hunger.
“It’s about restoring neighborhoods that have had to deal with economic and environmental injustice that has been overlooked,” said Mike Jones, Richmond City Councilor.
While the program is being funded through one-time federal money, Stoney says he hopes they will find funding in future budgets to keep it going.
“I know it will be a hand up. Not a handout, a hand up to a number of nonprofit organizations that have been doing this work for years, for years,” said Stoney.
The application process started today. You can find more information here. A team will review all those applications in August and award the grant money.
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Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”