CSCI Moves Forward
As we begin reviewing applications for the first round of the CSCI’s competitive grantmaking program, I am excited about the months and years ahead. I had the pleasure of joining the CRF team just as the plans and vision created for CSCI by CRF and 6 other partners are finally becoming reality!
These applications are a real-world reminder of the need this initiative was created to address in the first place. Many communities across the country that are on the front lines of the climate crisis do not have the resources to identify and prioritize the climate change hazards impacting them or plans in place to address them. I am so impressed with the applications that have come in the dedication of the collaborative partnerships that are ready to solve climate impacts on the ground. CSCI’s grantmaking program will support a trained climate adaptation professional to work side by side with climate-impacted communities to co-produce a climate resilience plan or implement an existing plan. Each community applicant must include partnerships between local or regional governments and community based organizations that can represent historically underrepresented populations. As a new team member, I appreciate how this structure recognizes the importance of diverse cross-sector partnerships to implementing climate resilience projects effectively and equitably.
Grounded in the Steps to Resilience Framework, the CSCI offers a suite of resources in addition to grants including:
- Capacity building and technical assistance for communities by matching them with a trained adaptation professional
- Training for climate adaptation professionals to build the pipeline for a climate-ready workforce
- A searchable registry of trained climate adaptation professionals for communities, governments, Tribes and NGOs to find the adaptation support they need, and
- A knowledge sharing platform
The initiative was developed over many months, and simply would not have been possible without our partners who have designed a national model that is truly innovative and has no precedent. CRF, EcoAdapt, ICF, Fernleaf, Geos Institute and the Environment, Equity, and Justice Center at NRDC have designed an initiative that will chart a new path forward in building national climate resilience by centering equity, community-driven solutions, local leadership and nature. Priiritizing equity, local expertise, community agency and a coherent set of science based national standards is no easy feat and this consortium took that on.
Together, these components of CSCI, create a replicable framework to enable communities across the Nation to lead the fight against the climate crisis and create a workforce that can equip them with the tools and technical expertise that the climate impacts we see and feel today requires.
Please stay tuned for when we take the next exciting step in making this initiative a reality by announcing the first grants of the pilot year. We anticipate announcing these awards in July. And the next grant cycle is expected to open in the fall or winter of 2024.
For more, please visit the initiative’s website.