Team Biden Pledges $830M To Harden Infrastructure Against Climate-Triggered Disasters

The Joe Biden-led administration has announced a significant investment of $830 million to protect infrastructure from the increasing threat of extreme weather events, which are being intensified by climate change.

What Happened: The administration is setting aside $830 million to bolster the resilience of bridges, roads, ports, and other infrastructure against extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, The Hill reported on Thursday.

The Transportation Department is providing the funds, which will support 80 projects across 37 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands. The bulk of the funding, $621 million, will go towards 36 projects that aim to fortify existing infrastructure through measures such as improving drainage, relocating roadways, and elevating bridges.

An additional $119 million will be allocated to protect, reinforce, or remove vulnerable coastal infrastructure, including highways. The remaining funds will be used to enhance evacuation routes and resilience plans.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg underscored the grave threat climate change poses to infrastructure, safety, and quality of life in communities, as well as to supply chains. He described the funding as part of the “first-ever dedicated program” where the federal government is partnering with states and tribes to strengthen infrastructure.

The funding is sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Why It Matters: The Biden administration has been actively addressing climate change, as evidenced by its previous investment of $830 million in May 2023 to improve energy efficiency in low-income housing, a move aimed at both combating climate change and alleviating energy burdens on vulnerable communities.

Furthermore, the urgency of addressing climate change has been a recurring theme in global forums like the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, which was held in Dubai in November.

Additionally, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January, faced criticism for its focus on climate change while attendees extensively used private jets.

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