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About Justice Climate Fund

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Driving Equitable Climate Solutions

across America with Innovative

Clean Energy Financing

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The Justice Climate Fund (JCF) has submitted an innovative plan to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to affordably finance clean energy projects that promise to deliver healthier air, greener transportation, cleaner water and better-paying jobs to communities across the country.

JCF is well-positioned to deliver on its plan because it represents community lenders and climate equity leaders who bring decades of collective experience working in communities that the EPA is seeking to benefit first. The EPA is scheduled to announce its decision on which organizations have been chosen to administer the financing in March 2024.

For far too long, we have seen how climate change disproportionately affects the most vulnerable.

  • Equity in Disaster Response

    • Several recent studies show that the federal response to natural disasters is inequitable.

  • Pollution and Minority Health

    • Racial and ethnic minorities and low-income groups in the United States are exposed to higher levels of air pollution.

  • Energy Affordability Gap

    • Low-income households spend over 300 percent more on energy, as a proportion of their income, compared to non-low-income households.

Working together, we can empower millions left behind to be at the center of transformative change that will deliver economic benefits and a better quality of life for all.

#strongertogether

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More about

JCF

JCF is a purpose-built nonprofit financial institution that is building the field and deploying capital through CDFIs, credit unions, MDIs and green banks to enable families, communities and businesses to save money while investing in a greener and safer future for all.

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Founded by the Community Builders of Color Coalition, JCF is comprised of a growing national and diverse network of financial institutions and advocacy organizations that have been working for many decades with, for and in communities that have been historically left behind.

JCF BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE:

JCF COALITION PARTNERS INCLUDE:

About the

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

and the JCF Application

On august 16, 2022

President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the $27B GGRF to mobilize financing and private capital to combat the climate crisis and revitalize communities, particularly those that have historically been left behind.

The GGRF will be implemented through three grant competitions:

  • $14B

    • National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF)

  • $6B

    • Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA)

  • $7B

    • Solar for All competition

On October 12, 2023

JCF submitted its application for two of the GGRF programs:

Applied for

$12.21B from the NCIF

which it will use to distribute capital to low-income and disadvantaged communities at a percentage well above the federal government’s 40% threshold. Via its unprecedented coalition and expertise, JCF will make green lending accessible and affordable to disadvantaged households, businesses and communities, enabling Americans to realize U.S. climate, welfare and equity goals. 

Applied for

$4.4B from the CCIA

which JCF will enable every Community Lender in its nationwide network to apply for funding to gain the necessary skills, tools and relationships to successfully deploy affordable, responsible green lending for low-income and disadvantaged households, businesses and communities. The ultimate vision is to accelerate Community Lender capacity to finance Priority Qualified Projects that meet community needs, based on the objective merits and spectrum of benefits of such projects to disadvantaged communities nationwide.

Who We

Fight For?

Over 109M

Americans living in low-income and disadvantaged communities (as defined by the White House). 

Americans living in low-income and disadvantaged communities (as defined by the White House).
64% of the people in disadvantaged communities are either Hispanic/Latino, Black or American Indian/Alaska Native

64%

of the people in disadvantaged communities are either Hispanic/Latino, Black or American Indian/Alaska Native.

Half of All

Hispanic/Latino, Black and American Indian/Alaska Natives in the country reside in disadvantaged census tracts.

43M

Americans who are unable to pay an energy bill the last 12 months.

Tens of Millions

of Americans impacted and soon to be impacted by the increased number and intensity of climate-related events (e.g., droughts, storms, floods) that are exacerbating already inadequate housing and infrastructure systems.

Thousands

of communities facing negative health impacts from pollution and environmental hazards.

Thousands of communities facing negative health impacts from pollution and environmental hazards.