The MI Healthy Climate Justice Accelerator (Justice Accelerator) is designed to center community-led climate action in advancing the goals in the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The MI Healthy Climate Plan commits the state to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 in a just and equitable manner. This includes ensuring that Michigan’s historically disadvantaged communities benefit from at least 40% of state funding for climate and water infrastructure. However, many frontline communities and organizations face significant barriers in securing resources for climate and infrastructure projects.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) and the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate (OEJPA), working with Elevate, developed the Justice Accelerator to support Michigan Environmental Justice communities with funding, technical assistance, and training to successfully apply for and receive available funding.
The Justice Accelerator program launched in October 2024 to support 25 community-based organizations selected from frontline communities across Michigan in building capacity for enduring and equitable climate action. Frontline communities experience the impacts of climate change “first and worst” and are often historically disadvantaged.
