Cumulative Health Impacts at the Intersection of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerable Populations/Lifestages: Community-Based Research for Solutions | EPA G2021 STAR H1

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2021 STAR H1

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this funding opportunity under its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program to support transdisciplinary, community-engaged research focused on the combined (cumulative) health burdens that occur where climate change, environmental justice concerns, and vulnerability across specific populations or life stages overlap. The intent is not simply to study climate or pollution in isolation, but to examine how climate-driven conditions can intensify exposures to pollutants or contaminants in underserved communities, how those combined stressors translate into real-world health impacts, and how research findings can be turned into practical, community-relevant solutions that reduce harm.

A central expectation is that proposed projects directly address three required research questions. First, applicants must identify and evaluate the most influential vulnerabilities tied to ongoing climate change that are specific to a community, a population group, or a particular life stage, and explain how those vulnerabilities could increase exposure to pollutants or contaminants or worsen health effects from those exposures in underserved communities. This could include, for example, how extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, drought, or changing patterns of allergens and infectious disease might interact with existing pollution sources, aging infrastructure, occupational exposures, housing quality, limited access to health care, or other structural factors that shape risk. Second, projects must assess the cumulative health impacts of climate-related stressors on vulnerable groups or susceptible life stages in underserved settings, meaning the combined impacts of multiple stressors acting together over time rather than a single hazard considered on its own. Third, applicants must show how community-based scientific research can be translated into effective, actionable solutions that reduce climate-related health impacts in underserved communities, emphasizing real-world application, communication, and uptake of results rather than producing findings that remain only in academic settings.

The award mechanism allows funding through grants and cooperative agreements, signaling that EPA may have substantial involvement in some projects depending on the specific award structure and terms. The opportunity sits within the environmental funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 66.509. While eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," applicants are directed to the solicitation (Section IV) for the detailed eligibility rules and submission requirements, which typically clarify what types of institutions, organizations, or partnerships can apply and what partnership structures are expected for community-based work.

Financially, EPA anticipated making about six awards, with an award ceiling of $1,350,000 per project. The opportunity was created on September 15, 2021, with an original closing date of November 16, 2021. Overall, the program is designed for teams that can combine multiple disciplines (for example, environmental health, exposure science, epidemiology, climate science, social science, risk communication, and implementation or policy research) while working closely with affected communities to identify priority problems, measure and interpret cumulative risks, and co-develop or support solutions that meaningfully improve health outcomes under a changing climate in communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cumulative Health Impacts at the Intersection of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerable Populations/Lifestages: Community-Based Research for Solutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 15, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 16, 2021 Please see Section IV of the solicitation for further submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA G2021 STAR H1

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