Natural Climate Solutions Grants
Natural Climate Solutions Grants support New Jersey governments, nonprofits, colleges, and landowners in restoring coastal, forest, and urban carbon sinks to advance climate, clean energy, and equity goals.
Funder: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates: December 31, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $30 million for Round 2 blue and green carbon projects
Summary: Supports on-the-ground projects that create, restore, and enhance New Jersey’s natural carbon sinks to advance climate, clean energy, and equity goals.
Key Information: Grants are reimbursement-based; private-property projects must provide 25% matching funds.
Description
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Natural Climate Solutions Grant program supports on-the-ground implementation projects that create, restore, and enhance natural carbon sinks. These include salt marshes, seagrass beds, forests, urban parks and woodlands, and street trees. Funding comes from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction proceeds and advances New Jersey’s climate, clean energy, and equity goals, including its 2050 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2006 levels.
Round 2 invests in two initiatives: Promoting Blue Carbon in Coastal Areas and Enhancing Forests and Urban Forests, or Green Carbon. Coastal projects address shoreline protection, tidal flows, and salt marsh vegetation. Forest and urban projects restore native forest communities or establish and maintain trees while improving water quality.
