The Mayor's Office of Resilience & Sustainability (ORS) focuses on environmental stewardship and climate resilience in New Orleans. Working in partnership with city departments, state and federal agencies, and community groups, ORS advises on policies and projects that impact our city. We use the city's Resilience Strategy, Climate Equity Report, and Climate Action Plan as guides to do work across multiple sectors:
- Economic
- Environmental
- Infrastructure
- Social
ORS leads the policy development, implementation, and outreach for many resilience-building projects throughout the city.
Our office has a wide range of duties. These have included updating the City's Climate Action Plan in 2022, as well as managing the development of green infrastructure and stormwater management projects. We also develop federal funding applications for city infrastructure initiatives among other duties. We aim to pave the way for projects that will make New Orleans a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable city for all our residents.
Understanding the Impact of Federal Funding Changes on New Orleans' Climate and Resilience Initiatives
In January 2025, a federal executive order temporarily paused funding for numerous climate and infrastructure initiatives, putting over $139 million in grant funding for climate action in the City at risk. Although legal challenges have led to temporary restraining orders and pending litigation against the funding freeze, the situation remains uncertain. Many of ORS' federal funding partners have delayed or canceled meetings, leaving New Orleans in a precarious position as we await further guidance.
If funding is halted, it could result in:
- Delays in launching initiatives such as tree planting, solar subsidies for low-income residents, and EV charging infrastructure.
- Disruptions to planned workforce development programs.
- Loss of funding for community organizations that help implement sustainability projects across the city.
Read the 2/17/25 overview on ORS' federal grants at risk
Read the 8/21/25 update on ORS' federal grants
We encourage residents, stakeholders, and policymakers to stay informed and advocate for the continuation of these essential programs.
Watch the Vision for a Resilient New Orleans Take Shape: