When disaster strikes, inequities in our communities become more apparent and, unfortunately, compound. For years, the National Conference on Citizenship, Fair Count, and Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP) came together to release Pandemic to Prosperity. This project tracked these inequities across the country — often with an emphasis on the South— to help communities direct federal funds as they recovered from Covid. Building on the work of those reports, Pathways to Prosperity — Building Climate Resilience similarly recognizes how, if left unaddressed, major crises exacerbate structural disparities. Our team has assembled and analyzed a unique set of metrics to provide a state-by-state overview of climate shocks, climate adaptation activities, and civic health.

Covid-19 and climate change are inextricably linked. Studies show that air pollution exacerbated Covid-19’s impact: long-term exposure to air pollution increased the risk of hospitalization and mortality. The same marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by each disaster. And they both exacerbate inequities, undermining community resilience and making states less adaptable to changing conditions. While the large-scale health and economic shocks of the pandemic have passed, Covid continues to affect communities across the United States. At the same time, climate shocks are increasing in intensity and frequency. Thus our team is shifting our focus to climate change, utilizing our analytical and data communication expertise, to address a longer-term crisis that has existential implications.

Though we are faced with many threats to people’s health and well-being, Pathways to Prosperity recognizes that communities across the United States have a massive opportunity to leverage federal investments and lessen the harms of climate change. Our reports serve as a guide to ensuring federal funds, like those available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, are distributed equitably and strategically — saving lives, improving well-being, and strengthening communities. Both public and private sector efforts will be essential here and both must make decisions on where to invest and which initiatives to prioritize. The distribution of our report to community partners across the country will empower them in their advocacy and build awareness among the public so that they may actively participate in shaping their own climate futures. 

The unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 pandemic spurred numerous lessons that will be crucial for current and future disaster preparedness, public health, and equitable outcomes. Our climate change work will build on these learnings and harvest new insights. It is our hope that, as our analysis of climate data informs the distribution of federal funds, communities can weather the storm of climate disasters, address the causes of the climate crisis, and ultimately thrive.

View all archived Pandemic to Prosperity Reports from 2020 - 2023.