Summary of Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity seeks to advance the understanding of climate hazard (e.g. extreme heat, sea level rise, flooding and extreme weather events) effects on communities that are overburdened1 by environmental hazards (e.g., heat-related stress, air and water contaminants). The Gulf Research Program (GRP) is accepting applications from academic and research institutions for projects that develop or augment models of the potential impacts of multiple, interacting climate hazards on local environmental health disparities.2 Cross-sectoral project teams, including the participation of public, private and non-profit organizations, and state, local and tribal governments are encouraged. GRP has made a total of $5.5 million available to support projects under this funding opportunity and anticipates making individual awards ranging from $1 – 1.5 million for projects not exceeding three years in duration. See the full RFA for more details.

Background

Climate change is intensifying adverse conditions such that multiple climate hazards (e.g. extreme heat, sea level rise, flooding and extreme weather events) will occur simultaneously and interact with non-climatic risks that threaten human health and well-being. Specifically, climate change exacerbates existing environmental hazards (e.g., heatrelated stress, air and water contaminants) that are known to adversely affect human health outcomes (e.g., lower life expectancy, higher risk of asthma and cancer, increased exposure to food-borne and vector-borne illness). Communities overburdened by environmental hazards are likely to experience more intense health impacts than others, resulting in greater environmental health disparities when compared to communities exposed to less or fewer environmental hazards. This increased likelihood is particularly relevant to flood-prone communities in proximity to oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Models and data information products that identify areas overburdened by pollution and vulnerable to climate hazards are typically built on consistent and interoperable national datasets with known limitations in quality, coverage, and scale resolution. As a result, many models may not include localized data that could enable community stakeholders, planners, and decision-makers to fully understand current and future localized risks. New or augmented statistical and geospatial models that incorporate available localized data are needed to improve the understanding of how multiple climate hazards interact and may amplify environmental health disparities within communities under varying scenarios and timeframes.

Purpose of Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity seeks to advance the understanding of climate change effects on local environmental health disparities under varying scenarios and timeframes.

This funding opportunity will support projects within the GRP’s focus regions that:

1. Investigate and model interactions of multiple climate hazards (e.g., extreme temperatures and weather events, flooding, sea level rise) on localized environmental hazards (e.g. human exposure to air and water contaminants) using existing and publically-available data; and
2. Project the resulting environmental health disparities (lower life expectancy, higher risk of asthma and cancer, increased exposure to food-borne and vector-borne illness) under varying scenarios and near, mid, and long-term timeframes.

All projects will produce:

1. A report that includes:

• A description of the study design and methodology, including a discussion on limitations and strengths; and,
• Based on the results of the analysis, the identification of future implications and/or potential strategies and actions that could be taken to reduce climate change effects on localized environmental health disparities.

1. Data information products, models, geospatial maps, or interactive tools that visualize the potential interactions and effects of climate change and environmental hazards on health in overburdened communities.
   

Award Details

Total amount available: Up to $5.5 million

Anticipated number of awards: 3 - 5

Award per grantee: Up to $1 - 1.5 million

Period of performance: Up to 36 months

Key Dates

• September 14, 2022: Application submission site opens

• November 18, 2022: Application deadline (due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

• March 2023: Award selection and notification

• May 2023: Anticipated funding start date

Key Information

[1] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines “overburdened communities” in its Environmental Justice Glossary. See: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/ej-2020-glossary

[2] According to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Environmental health disparities exist when communities exposed to a combination of poor environmental quality and social inequities have more sickness and disease than wealthier, less polluted communities.”