On Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced plans and funds to fight climate change.

"To support communities in need of a more resilient infrastructure that can withstand impacts like more extreme weather and increased flooding, President Obama is responding to guidance from governors, mayors, county and tribal officials who are proven leaders in helping their communities prepare for climate impacts," a White House statement said.

The president made his plans based on recommendations by the State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, which he formed in November 2013, and "in conjunction with" the $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition program that Obama announced last month, MSNBC reports.

The majority of the allotted funds will go to eight different states in order to improve rural electrical systems via a $236.3 million investment.

"A modern, reliable electric system is critical to attract and retain residents and businesses in rural communities," the statement said. "Supporting rural electric utilities' deployment of smart grid technologies will increase efficiency and reliability and bring more jobs to rural America."

In addition, $13.1 million was attributed to the Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey and other federal agencies toward a 3-D Elevation Program partnership "designed to bring Federal agencies, academia, corporate entities, states, tribes, and communities together to develop advanced 3-dimensional mapping data of the United States," according to the statement.

"These data and related tools will be used in the areas of flood risk management, water resource planning, mitigation of coastal erosion and storm surge impacts, and identification of landslide hazards as an essential component of supporting action on climate resilience," the statement continued.

Furthermore, $10 million was allotted to The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs' new Federal-Tribal Climate Resilience Partnership and Technical Assistance Program. The money will help tribes adapt to impending climate change.

Meanwhile, $1.5 million will go toward helping various states and tribes make changes to their coastal management programs.

The State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience features 26 officials from around the U.S. and will give its final notes to Obama this fall.
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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