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In a move to combat climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced an award of more than $421 million to four states, including North Carolina, in one of the largest grants ever made by the federal agency. Additional partner states include South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, which will work collaboratively with North Carolina to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by protecting and restoring natural habitats, according to a news release from the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

“Here in North Carolina, nearly $30 million of the funding will be used to protect and restore approximately 595 acres of coastal habitats to reduce carbon emissions and make communities more resilient to natural hazards,” stated the release.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation will re-establish native coastal vegetation, restore degraded wetlands, and protect existing peatlands and salt marsh systems throughout the coast with the EPA’s historic support. These habitats are known for their extraordinary capacity to capture and store carbon, often referred to as “blue carbon.” By preserving these vital ecosystems, the EPA funded initiative will help ensure that the stored carbon remains sequestered, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming, the release continued.

“Coastal habitats are some of the most efficient natural carbon sinks on the planet,” said Braxton Davis, executive director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation. “This funding will enable us to protect these critical areas and enhance their ability to sequester carbon, which is an important component in our fight against climate change.”

“The EPA’s support is a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between federal agencies, state governments, and nonprofit organizations like the Coastal Federation in addressing climate change. It sets a precedent for future initiatives aimed at leveraging natural solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” stated the release.

“By investing in the protection and restoration of our coastal habitats, we are not only preserving biodiversity and enhancing the resilience of our coastlines but also taking significant steps toward mitigating climate change,” said Jacob Boyd, the Coastal Federation’s salt marsh program director. “This is a model for not only how we can use natural infrastructure to help achieve our climate goals but how we can have a much greater impact through partnerships and collaboration.”

According to a release from the EPA, the funding is part of more than $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. Governor Roy Cooper and NCDNCR announced the $421 million award in a release noting that over 200,000 acres of coastal habitats, forests and farmland will be preserved, enhanced or restored across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland with this support.

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