Report: Tribes in the Pacific Northwest face climate change funding barriers
Tribes in the Pacific Northwest struggle to access funds for climate change adaptation due to bureaucratic challenges, despite being on the frontline of climate impacts.
Hallie Golden reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Pacific Northwest tribes face severe climate impacts, like rising seas and extreme heat, but encounter bureaucratic obstacles when seeking government funds to address these issues.
- Many tribes cannot provide matching funds or staff to meet grant requirements and find that the funds they receive are limited and restrictive.
- Tribes emphasize the need for federal agencies to address these barriers and fulfill their trust responsibilities to support tribal adaptation efforts.
Key quote:
"This is a time of historic state and federal investment in climate action, and tribal priorities really need to be considered when making decisions around how we’re going to be directing this investment."
— Meade Krosby, senior author of the report by the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative.
Why this matters:
Coastal tribes in the U.S. face some of the most significant threats from climate change, impacting their communities and traditional ways of life. Ensuring equitable access to funding and resources is crucial for their adaptation efforts and to support broader climate resilience.
