Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants

EPA Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights

Wildfire-Specific Spending: No

Wildfire Activities Funded: Mitigation

Authorization:
P.L. 117-169

3,000
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS (IN MIL)
FY2015 – FY2024

Description

The Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants program provides grants and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations for air and other pollution-related efforts, investments in low- and zero-emission technologies (among others), mitigating climate and health risks, climate resilience and adaptation, reducing indoor toxics and air pollution, or facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities.

Additional Program Notes & TCS Insights

Of the total appropriations provided in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), $2.8 billion is for financial assistance and $200 million for technical assistance to implement the new program at the EPA.


Funding is implemented through multiple programs: Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program, Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program, Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program, and Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program. All programs may include wildfire mitigation and recovery activities. For example, in 2023 the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department was awarded $1 million and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency was awarded $998 thousand in EJG2G grants to increase community resilience to wildfires and wildfire smoke. In the EJCPS program, Farmworker Justice Fund was awarded $500 thousand and the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative was awarded $360 thousand for wildfire-related projects.


Appropriations

Regular Supplemental IIJA IRA
FY2015 0
FY2016 0
FY2017 0
FY2018 0
FY2019 0
FY2020 0
FY2021 0
FY2022 0 0 3,000,000,000
FY2023 0 0 0
FY2024 0 0 0
FY2025 0
FY2026 0

Last Updated: October 17, 2024

Received Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Funding: No

Received Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding: Yes – New

Appropriations Notes

Supplemental appropriations through the Inflation Reduction Act are available through September 30, 2026.