Regional Planning Efforts for National Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
On this page you can find:
What is the Resilient Futures Initiative? 
What is the Climate Pollution Reduction Program? 
Key CPRG Resources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) planning program provides funding to U.S. states, regions, territories, and tribes to make meaningful plans and implement projects that meaningfully reduce climate pollution such as greenhouse gasses (GHGs) and other harmful air pollutants while also benefiting frontline communities.
The CPRG planning program funds were released to U.S. states, regions, territories, and tribes in 2024 to develop regional climate action plans. In New Mexico, six entities received this four-year grant to lead planning efforts for their jurisdictions. The other recipients include the State of New Mexico’s Environment Department, the Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Santa Ana, the Pueblo of Sandia, and a tribal consortium led by the Pueblo of Tesuque. For the City, these funds will extend beyond the City of Albuquerque limits to include the entire Metro Statistical Area, which encompasses all communities in Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Torrance Counties. Over the coming years, the City will complete the following deliverables:
- 2024: Publish an initial set of projects that reduce pollution and benefit frontline communities.
- 2024: Complete a region-wide greenhouse gas inventory.
- 2025: Build out and support a Community Task Force and Policy Advisors.
- 2026: Publish a community-driven Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
- 2027: Submit a status report to EPA.
The City of Albuquerque is committed to facilitating this work for and with the MSA. To ensure grant activities benefit the entire region, the City has launched a public engagement campaign called the Resilient Futures Initiative. Under this initiative, project staff, contractors, and partners will seek to:
- Increase local capacity to plan for, mitigate, and adapt to climate pollution and changing weather patterns,
- Create community-driven strategic plans that prioritize the health, safety, and resilience of frontline communities, and
- Inspire action towards shared goals and priorities.
Through the Resilient Futures Initiative, several datasets will be created to inform resilience planning across the region. Once complete, project staff will develop and publish a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. This plan will highlight strategies that:
- Have significant climate pollution reductions,
- Have significant benefits to frontline communities – those that experience the first and worst of climate pollution and extreme weather, and
- Help Central New Mexico become a thriving, resilient urban center.
The City of Albuquerque Office of Sustainability is committed to guiding the implementation of CPRG’s Planning Program to center the needs of frontline communities, perform deep, lasting climate pollution reduction, and break down silos. Ultimately, progress towards a more equitable and climate-resilient MSA requires coordinated action between the cities, counties, industry, and all members of the community. To ensure this effort will encompass both meaningful community engagement and industry best practices, there will be several opportunities for stakeholders to get involved through a future community survey, task force members, and working groups.
Partners
This regional effort is also made possible thanks to support from our growing list of partners
- Bernalillo County
- Mid-Region Council of Governments
- Pueblo of San Felipe
- Pueblo of Sandia
- Albuquerque Justice40 Oversight Coordinating Committee
Stay Informed
Visit the Resilient Futures Initiative website for updates and to sign up for our newsletter.
Frontline Communities
A critical component of the CPRG program is its rootedness in community. CPRG seeks to prioritize climate pollution reduction efforts that work to address inequalities and empower community-driven solutions in frontline communities. Collaboration with and direction from frontline communities, need to be central to shaping this multi-jurisdictional plan.
As part of this effort, CPRG remains a line item in each meeting of the Albuquerque Justice 40 Oversight Coordinating Committee, and the Committee helped support Priority Climate Action Plan community engagement.
Key Resources for the Albuquerque MSA Climate Action Planning Effort: