Dec 9, 2022
The Biden administration announced a $75 million plan to help three Indigenous tribes move their towns. The towns are currently in coastal areas. They're threatened by climate change. The money is part of a larger effort to help Native American communities adapt to changes in the environment.
Two of the tribes are in Alaska. The other is in Washington state. Each will be given $25 million. Alaska’s Newtok and Napakiak tribes have come under threat in the past few years. Storms have harmed coastal towns. Some parts of them are already underwater. Newtok residents plan to use the funds to move to a safer spot. It's nine miles away.
Washington's Quinault Indian Nation has had a hard time dealing with rising sea levels. Storm surge and flooding have hit them hard. Officials believe that the $25 million will cover about a fourth of the cost to move their village. They're moving away from the coast and a flood-prone river.
“Helping these communities move to safety on their homelands is one of the most important climate related investments we could make in Indian Country,” the US Interior Secretary said.
As the world gets warmer, glacial ice melts and sea levels rise. The warm waters cause stronger storms. Those worsen the issues faced by the tribes. A report in May stated that 73 of Alaska’s 227 Indigenous villages face problems caused by climate change.
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