Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change

The document outlines a variety of U.S. federal programs—spanning the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS—that provide grants, loans, and technical support for nature-based solutions. These projects, such as wetland restoration, green roofs, and urban forestry, are designed to reduce climate-related hazards like flooding and heat waves while providing carbon sequestration and economic co-benefits. The fact sheet details the eligibility and specific applications of these resources, illustrating their use through examples in cities and states across the U.S.

• Nature-based solutions, which restore or emulate natural systems, can be more cost-effective than traditional engineered projects in reducing damage from natural hazards and provide critical co-benefits such as carbon sequestration.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manages several programs supporting nature-based solutions, including the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for low-interest loans, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for wetland restoration and green stormwater infrastructure, and the Greening America’s Communities program for sustainable urban design.
• FEMA provides funding through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs to reduce repetitive flood damage and develop resilient infrastructure before disasters occur.
• Other federal agencies offer specialized resources for nature-based resilience: HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) supports urban tree planting and stormwater management; NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program focuses on coastal and marine habitats; the USDA's Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program enhances urban forests to moderate temperatures and manage runoff; and the USFWS Coastal Program provides assistance for coastal ecosystem resilience.

APA

Bertrand, S., & Schneer, K. (2020). Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-federal-resources-for-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change

Chicago

Bertrand, Savannah, and Katie Schneer. Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2020. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-federal-resources-for-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bertrand |first1=Savannah |last2=Schneer |first2=Katie |title=Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=19 February 2020 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-federal-resources-for-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bertrand2020federal, author = {Bertrand, Savannah and Schneer, Katie}, title = {{Federal Resources for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2020}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-federal-resources-for-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }