In a recent announcement by the Biden-Harris administration, a robust step has been taken to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and transportation.
In an announcement to the press dated October 3, 2023, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the commencement of the Climate and Transportation Research Initiative. According to the press release, the program will receive an initial investment of $2.5 million and is the result of a collaborative effort between the United States Department of Transportation and institutions that meet the criteria for eligibility.
In order to stress the significance of this policy, the news release included a quotation from Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation for the United States, who expressed alarm regarding the increasing frequency of significant disasters across the country, from Vermont to Hawaii. Buttigieg went on to "In the past few months alone, Americans...have faced the devastating impact of so-called 'once-in-a-century' disasters." His point was reiterated, and he expressed optimism that the funds would encourage research that would lead to innovative solutions for cleaner modes of transportation.
According to the statement, the Department of Transportation will be opening the Climate and Transportation Research Centre. Its goal is to make the nation's clean energy targets more ambitious, to build the nation's transportation infrastructure, and to reduce the negative environmental consequences generated by the transportation industry.
Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, who is described in the press release as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for science and Technology and Chief Science Officer, highlighted the significance of science and technology in his remarks. He was alleged to have commented, "When it comes to climate change and transportation, research and technology have a lot to bring to the table."
According to the statement, an educational institution or nonprofit organization will receive up to $2.5 million annually for a period of three years if they collaborate with a partner group. There is a possibility that the duration of this arrangement could be increased by another five years, increasing the total amount of money over the course of that time to $12.5 million.
