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Environment Program tightly knits 3 prongs of climate-change resilience strategy
Kresge’s Environment Program has completed a strategy refinement that more closely ties its climate change efforts to the foundation’s broad purpose of expanding opportunity for vulnerable people in America’s cities.
The strategy builds on past efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the new circumstances and uncertainty that climate change introduces.
Moving forward, the Environment Program will support activities that help communities build resilience in the face of climate change by:
- Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change
- Planning for the consequences of climate change that are underway or anticipated
- Fostering social cohesion and inclusion
All three of those elements are essential, says Lois DeBacker, managing director of the program. “Climate change is a systemic problem that will impact built, natural, and social environments in unexpected and uncertain ways. Our aim is to help communities both reduce emissions so society can avoid the worst impacts of climate change and develop the capacity to prosper under a wide range of climate-influenced circumstances.”
The Environment Program will support place-based projects that can serve as models, connect local practitioners with one another in learning networks, and help to build a field of practice.
Additional details are available on the Environment Program page. The team is completing implementation plans and continues to accept applications for funding by invitation only.