FEMA Holds Emergency Preparedness Grants Hostage, Shutdown Threat to US Flood Insurance Program, African Climate Tech Start-up Raise, and More

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has suspended over US$300mn in emergency preparedness grants, and is demanding states verify their population numbers before lifting the freeze.

The agency claims that the move, first reported by CNN, is justified because states may be overallocated funds — which are awarded proportionately based on census counts. The mass deportation of immigrants under the Trump administration may have altered the number of people living in some parts of the country, FEMA says.

States were notified this week that to unlock funding, they must certify their population counts as of September 30, explaining how they calculated their totals and confirming those removed under US immigration laws are excluded.

Emergency Management Performance Grants are an essential plank of local disaster preparedness, helping fund critical staff, equipment, and public training. The new requirement adds further bureaucracy and complexity to the process of receiving these much-needed dollars. Compounding the challenge for states, FEMA has yet to clarify what methodology is acceptable for population certification.

“These funds are the backbone of local emergency management programs,” a spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Association wrote in a statement to CNN. “Without timely access, communities face gaps in readiness that could slow response to disasters and emergencies when every minute counts.”

FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security which houses it have made multiple changes to climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding in recent months. Notably, the agency cut the time states have to spend grant money from three years to one, and changed the amounts states could expect to receive.

However, some of its efforts to claw back funding have been blocked. Last Tuesday, a federal court stopped the Trump administration from pulling US$233mn of FEMA disaster relief funds from 12 Democratic-led states — just before a September 30 deadline that would have made their loss irreversible. US District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, said the attempt appeared to be illegal.

Wealthy nations are loading poor countries with billions in climate loans that are increasing their debt burdens and sapping their ability to prepare for and recover from climate disasters, a new report from Oxfam and CARE claims. Their analysis shows that for every US$5 disbursed to climate-vulnerable nations, US$7 are returned in interest and principal payments. Moreover, despite pledges of US$116bn in climate finance in 2022 from rich countries, actual support amounts to just US$28–35bn, with 65% delivered as loans, often at market rates. Adaptation continues to make up only a sliver of climate finance too — receiving only 33% of total finance in 2022. (CARE)

Los Angeles will pilot parametric heat insurance and direct cash support for outdoor street vendors. The collaboration, announced by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara alongside non-profits Climate Resilience for All, Inclusive Action for the City, and global reinsurer Swiss Re, adapts an initiative that’s already supported hundreds of thousands of women in India, who receive timely payouts when heat thresholds are breached. The program will deliver financial relief tailored to LA’s local context — empowering vendors to plan, protect their incomes, and avoid health risks. (Climate Resilience for All)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled two new grant initiatives totaling US$26mn to combat climate change and enhance water quality. The Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program will allocate US$24mn for on-farm projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering soil health. An additional US$2mn through the Ecosystem Based Management Program will support water conservation initiatives. Grant applications are open until December 8. (New York State)

Perigon Wealth Management has acquired Gitterman Wealth and Asset Management, a US$1.3bn advisory firm known for its climate adaptation investment focus. Based in New Jersey, Gitterman brings a 25-year track record in climate adaptation and retirement planning, including work with state retirement programs like New Jersey ABP and PERS. The merger brings Perigon’s total assets under management to US$10.6bn. (Perigon Wealth Management)

The African Development Bank Group has greenlit a US$22.8mn grant to accelerate climate-resilient rice production in Mozambique, with the aim of supporting 30,000 smallholder farmers across the country. The Rice Value Chain and Climate Resilience Project aspires to quadruple yields in the target areas — from a ton per hectare to four tons per hectare — and bolster the incomes of those working the land. The five-year scheme will overhaul 1,000 hectares of irrigation, improve drainage, and deliver special climate-resilient storage facilities, among other measures. (African Development Bank Group)

Nigeria has secured a €175mn (US$205mn) loan from the European Investment Bank to launch a sweeping erosion control and watershed management project across 23 states. The Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) aims to scale up the fight against severe gully erosion, flooding, and land degradation threatening food security and livelihoods nationwide. (Arise News) 

Australian insurer NRMA has announced the launch of its Help Fund, a new initiative designed to support climate resilience efforts across Australia. In its first year, the Help Fund will provide A$1mn (US$660,000) in grants, focusing on three main areas: supporting climate technology innovation, developing climate leadership, and backing community-led resilience projects. As part of the fund’s launch five climate tech companies — DNA Energy, FloodMapp AUS, GeoNadir, Rainstick, and VALAI — have each received A$100,000 to help scale solutions ranging from real-time flood forecasting to household water efficiency tools. (NRMA Insurance)

With the US government shutdown, the country’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has lapsed — bringing an abrupt halt to the issuance of flood policies for millions and jamming up the housing market in flood-prone regions.

The NFIP provides essential coverage for homeowners where private flood insurance is either scarce or non-existent. Without coverage, lenders cannot issue government-backed mortgages for homes in high-risk flood zones designated by FEMA, putting a freeze on home sales. The National Association of Realtors says NFIP underpins nearly half a million transactions each year.

The program’s suspension could cause particular issues in Florida and Texas, where around 14,800 and 3,500 monthly home sales closings depend on obtaining flood insurance, respectively.

Originally created in 1968 through the National Flood Insurance Act, the NFIP today covers more than 4.7 million policies representing US$1.3trn in housing value. The program has limped along on short-term reauthorizations since 2017 in the absence of a longer-term congressional fix, and is currently carrying US$23bn in debt.

Climate diplomats wrapped up a two-day workshop last week to review the proposed indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), part of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience. The discussions aimed to refine the 100-strong list ahead of COP30 in the interests of saving negotiating time for more contentious issues at the Belém summit. Experts say while the conversations were productive, there remain disagreements over indicators covering means of implementation (MoI) — in other words, adaptation finance — as well as monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). (UNFCCC)

The Trump administration has pulled the plug on US$72mn in USAID Feed the Future Innovation labs funding. The decision, enabled by a contentious end-of-year budget maneuver, targets international development projects but hits US universities working on global food security and resilience. Experts warn the cuts undermine efforts to improve the climate resilience of agriculture both overseas and in the US. (Politico)

A new survey of over 2,500 European businesses reveals strong backing for strong sustainability reporting and due diligence regulations, in contrast to the the EU’s ongoing push to rollback climate rules through its Omnibus legislative package. The research — commissioned by climate think tank E3G and conducted by YouGov — shows that a majority of businesses, including most small- and medium-sized enterprises, believe mandatory reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) should kick in for firms with 250 employees or more, running against the European Commission’s plan to lift thresholds to 1,000 staff. In addition, most companies want the EU to lead globally on standards, with two-thirds supporting ambitious rules. (E3G)

The EU Council has adopted the first-ever bloc-wide soil monitoring directive, with the aim of strengthening food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The directive compels member states to regularly assess and report on soil conditions using standardized EU methodologies, covering physical, chemical and biological indicators. While the targets are non-binding, the framework allows for harmonized action across the EU and data comparability for policymaking. (European Council)

A new report from the UN Environment Programme and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law finds that climate litigation is spreading rapidly worldwide, with over 3,000 cases filed in 79 national and international courts as of mid-2025. Legal actions now address issues including greenwashing, carbon offsets, and energy use by data centers. The report also finds that courts are increasingly recognizing the scientific basis for climate-related claims, including through “attribution science”, which ties specific extreme weather events to greenhouse gas emissions. (UNEP)

Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia have launched a three-year project to strengthen disaster and climate resilience. With backing from the Italian government and led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the initiative aims to improve early warning systems for at-risk populations and bolster regional cooperation in response to disasters like floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. Central to the project is the roll-out of real-time data platforms and disaster loss tracking capabilities that increase the efficiency of emergency responders. (UNDRR)

Pope Leo delivered his first major address on climate change last Wednesday in Vatican City, marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical. Leo urged citizens to push governments for stronger climate policies and warned that the environmental problems outlined a decade ago have only intensified. (Inside Climate News)

Kenyan agritech startup MazaoHub has closed a US$2mn seed round to advance its AI-powered farm management software and on-the-ground services for bolstering climate-resilient agriculture.

With MazaoHub’s offering, farmers receive AI-backed recommendations and field guidance through “Farmer Excellence Centers” — digital-agronomy clinics that track practices and outcomes. Verified harvests are then sold via CropSupply.com, a platform that links production directly to buyers to ensure supply chain transparency. Early evidence suggests the MazaoHub suite can deliver up to 30% fertilizer reduction, a fivefold increase in organic inputs, as well as material water and energy savings.

The fundraise includes US$1.5mn in equity led by Catalyst Fund and a US$500,000 non-dilutive tranche from the Livelihood Impact Fund. Other backers include Nordic Impact Fund, Mercy Corps Ventures, elea Foundation, Impacc, and DOB Equity.

Investors say MazaoHub is positioning African agriculture to leapfrog into a climate-resilient, data-first future. “MazaoHub is showing how to transform agriculture in Africa by blending data insights, local agronomist knowledge, and market access to enable sustainable farming at scale,” said Maelis Carraro, Managing Partner at Catalyst Fund.

Australian agtech firm SwarmFarm Robotics has clinched A$30mn (US$19.9mn) in Series B funding to scale its climate-smart autonomous farming systems. Led by Belgian investor Edaphon and joined by QIC, Emmertech, Tenacious Ventures and others, the round will fund SwarmFarm’s North American expansion and boost its open ecosystem of robotic attachments. The company’s lightweight “SwarmBots” cut herbicide use by up to 95% and slash fuel emissions by 35%, offering a compelling alternative to heavy, retrofitted tractors. The devices have already been deployed across 2 million hectares. (iGrow News)

The University of Oklahoma has received a US$19.9mn grant from the National Science Foundation to develop KaRVIR, the first mobile, dual-Doppler Ka-band imaging radar system in the United States. The system — designed by the university’s Advanced Radar Research Center — will provide rapid, high-resolution 3D observations of atmospheric phenomena, including cloud formation, precipitation, and wildfire smoke plumes. the objective is to improve weather forecasting, public safety, and STEM education through field deployment and outreach. (University of Oklahoma)

Connecticut has become the first state to roll out a free, public online climate risk mapping tool for every homeowner and business, giving residents instant access to property-specific risk assessments for flooding, wildfire, hurricane winds, and extreme heat. Launched in partnership with climate data firm First Street, the interactive platform provides more granular risk information than that offered by FEMA flood maps, and offers forward-looking, address-level insights that reflect rising perils. (State of Connecticut)

Destabilization of Earth system tipping elements (Nature Geoscience)

Climate-linked escalation of societally disastrous wildfires (Science)

Innovative financial instruments for the mobilization of private sector investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries (IISD)

State and trends of climate adaptation finance in Small Island Developing States (Climate Policy Initiative)

Climate variability and catastrophe bond premiums (Science Direct)

A systematic map of machine learning for urban climate change mitigation (Nature Cities)

World’s major cities hit by a quarter more hot days than in the 1990s (International Institute for Environment and Development)

Thanks for reading!

Louie Woodall
Editor