Rural Alaskans are facing the major effects of climate change, and those impacted are finding it difficult to obtain assistance. Out of 200 Alaska Native villages, nearly 70 are dealing with increases in flooding, thawing permafrost and erosion caused by climate change. Both the safety of individuals and their villages’ infrastructure are increasingly at risk. Communities not only have to worry about repairing the damage already done by climate change, but also taking preventative action toward any future threats. While threats continue to rise, many Alaska Native villages are unable to find or reach the help they need.
One of the greatest issues for these rural communities comes from a lack of consolidation among the available programs. Villages must draw from a combination of tribal, federal and state agencies as there are no stand-alone programs that can meet all their needs. Then, each program has its own unique requirements and deadlines, often leading to further confusion for those balancing help from several different resources. The second obstacle is funding. Communities often must look to multiple programs for relief because a single program’s grant award limit may not cover all expenses.
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that at least 20 of the 30 relevant federal programs present some type of barrier to applicants. For instance, some programs require communities to submit their applications via the internet, although reliable internet access is not always available within these rural communities. Other programs may only be available after a natural disaster and therefore are unable to assist villages looking to act before disaster strikes.
To better assist Native Alaska villages affected by climate change, the report suggests consolidating the relevant programs and providing technical assistance to communities in order to make the application process easier and more efficient.
To read the full story, go here: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/rural-alaska/2022/05/30/rural-alaska-villages-hope-to-eliminate-barriers-to-federal-funding-for-addressing-climate-change-threats/
