Seeking a healthier world and better prepared communities

ESG criteria are social, environmental, and governance committees that companies are making to demonstrate their pursuit of a positive impact on communities and the environment.

By: María Fernanda

The importance of environmental stewardship is creating various ways in the United States to help communities address ecological and social problems. One such grant is the Environmental Justice Cooperative Problem-Solving Partnership Program (EJCPS).

The program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health problems in their communities. EJCPS assists grantees in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders, such as businesses, local industries, local governments, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and others.

EPA's Collaborative Problem Solving Model for Environmental Justice is a requirement of the EJCPS Program for selected applicants or grantees. The case studies in the resources section highlight some of the successful strategies from previous projects.

Eligible entities to be part of the program are community-based nonprofit organizations; or partnerships of community-based nonprofit organizations.

EPA requires applications for projects supporting community-based nonprofit organizations in collaborating with other stakeholders to develop solutions that significantly address environmental or public health problems in communities disproportionately affected by environmental harm.

Two Executive Orders, EO 14008 and EO 13985, issued by the Joe Biden Administration, seek to fulfill its goals and commitments. One of the main goals of the EPA and the Biden Administration is to achieve environmental justice and integrate it into the Agency's programs.

In 2022 the Inflation Reduction Act created the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant program in section 138 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). It endowed EPA with $2.8 billion in program grants for projects benefiting environmental justice communities.

This grant provides $30,000,000 in funding under the CAA through 83 cooperative agreements organized into two funding streams. The first is $25,000,000 to fund communitybased organizations proposing projects of up to $500,000 each. Approximately 50 grants of up to $500,000 each are anticipated. And the second seeks to provide $5,000,000 for small organizations with five or fewer full-time employees proposing projects of up to $150,000 each. Approximately 33 grants of up to $150,000 each are anticipated. Any of the projects will be funded for a three-year implementation period.

$30,000,000 IN FUNDING UNDER THE CAA THROUGH 83 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ORGANIZED INTO TWO FUNDING STREAMS. ANT TO BOOST THE DECARBONIZATION OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY AND THE COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. MANUFACTURERS.

All applications must address at least one of the following five broad categories:

-community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention and remediation, and investments in resilient, low- and zero-emission technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants;

· mitigation of climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, emissions from wood heaters, and wildfires;

· climate resilience and adaptation;

· reducing toxins and indoor air pollution; or

· facilitating the participation of marginalized communities in local, state, and federal public processes, such as advisory groups, workshops, and rulemaking.