EPA Awards Research Grants For Investigating Cumulative Health Impacts Of Climate Change On Underserved Communities, Including In Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

On February 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $21,410,211 in grant funding to 16 institutions for community-based research to examine how climate change may compound adverse environmental conditions and stressors for vulnerable populations in underserved communities.

The two in Pennsylvania are--

-- Drexel University, Philadelphia: The overarching objective of this research project is to identify community stressors and resilience-enhancing assets that shape relationships between climate change-related exposures [heat, ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)] and children’s health.  Read more here.

-- RAND Corp., Pittsburgh: This project builds on a unique community-partnered research infrastructure that has been following a cohort of households, and their built and social environment, within an underserved urban and predominantly black community in Pittsburgh, PA, for the past decade.  Read more here.

The environmental and health effects of climate change are far reaching. Some communities are more vulnerable because they already face greater exposure to pollutants and lack the resources to respond to and cope with environmental stressors. 

These communities may be more likely to suffer sustained or even permanent damage from the impacts of climate change, further worsening health disparities. Additionally, children, older adults, and people with disabilities or pre-existing health conditions may be more susceptible.

These grants will support research projects that will use community-based participatory research approaches that aim to empower the partnering underserved communities with science-based resilience-building solutions to protect their most vulnerable residents.

Click Here to learn more about this program.

[Posted: February 27, 2023]  PA Environment Digest