Thurston Climate Action Team gets $75,000 grant to combat climate change
Thurston County’s Climate Action Team announced on Monday it had been awarded $75,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through an “environmental justice” grant.
The EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Business Grant program started in 1994 to “support and empower communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues,” according to a news release.
So far, the grant program has awarded more than $29 million to more than 1,400 organizations, tribal governments and Native American organizations who are working with communities facing environmental justice issues.
The release defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”
TCAT was founded in 2009 and works to promote action addressing the climate crisis as a community to benefit everyone in the community.
Melinda Hughes, TCAT executive director, said climate change affects everyone, but its effects are often felt most by vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, communities of low income or Black, Indigenous and other communities.
But Thurston County’s population as a whole is at an even greater risk.
“Thurston County is exceptionally susceptible as we lie at the base of the Puget Sound where pollution travels downwind and downstream avenues, putting us at even greater environmental hazard risk than those in King and Pierce Counties,” Hughes said in the release.
Thurston County’s racial and ethnic makeup consists of 82% of residents classifying themselves as “white alone” from 2015-2019, according to the release. In Lacey, only 71% identified as white alone as the area continues to become more diverse.
Hughes said this is the first federal grant submission from TCAT and they’re excited to work with neighbors and jurisdictional leaders to combat climate change under the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan.
“This grant will allow us to work closer with BIPOC neighbors, helping them to better prepare their homes for effects related to climate change whether it be from wildfire smoke or other air pollutants,” she said. “We also plan to help with water and electric conservation. Working together we can accomplish so much more to secure a more stable environment for future generations.”
.jpg)