This action approves an award in the amount of $1,000,000.00 under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the atlanta regional commission (ARC)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046) to the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). This funding will support the development, updating, and evaluation of climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sinks within the Atlanta region. Specific activities include greenhouse gas inventory and analysis, measure selection, quantification of emissions reductions and co-benefits, review of local authority, leveraging funding opportunities, and workforce analysis. The expected outcomes include the creation of a priority climate action plan and a comprehensive climate action plan that identify tons of pollution reduced over the lifetime of the measures, annually, and specifically in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The plans aim to improve air quality, health outcomes, create high-quality jobs, enhance community engagement, increase public awareness, and build staff capacity to address climate change within the Atlanta metro area.

The atlanta sandy springs alpharetta communities are experiencing more frequent and intense storms, flooding, heat waves, droughts, and other impacts of climate change. As the lead organization for climate pollution reduction grants planning process, the atlanta regional commission takes seriously its responsibility to develop climate action plans that will set up the region and its individual communities to best mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in conjunction with protecting human health, increasing economic mobility, and creating a competitive economy that benefits everyone. Every day, the ARC is charged with peering into the future and working with our partners across the community to foster thriving communities for all within the atlanta region through collaborative, data#8208; informed planning and investments. Activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate pollution (i.e., to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks). Specific activities include greenhouse gas inventory/analysis, greenhouse gas measure selection, quantification of greenhouse gas and LI#8208; DC benefits (*optional, as capacity permits*), review of authority, leveraging funding opportunities and workforce analysis. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the expected outcomes include a priority climate action plan and comprehensive climate action plan that identifies tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures; tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced annually; and tons of pollution (greenhouse gas and CO-pollutants) reduced with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The intended beneficiaries include IT is anticipated that the following additional environmental results, outputs, and outcomes will occur: improved ambient air quality; improved health outcomes (reduced asthma, lower incidence of death from heat waves, etc.); creation of high#8208; quality jobs with an emphasis on workers from underserved populations; enhanced community engagement; increased public awareness of project and results; and/or improved staff capacity to implement policies to address climate change.