New Climate Action Fund Open for Applications

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change recently announced the launch of the Climate Action Fund. The Fund will support projects that raise awareness of climate change and clean growth and that encourage others to take action in support of Canada’s climate goals.

The Fund will provide up to $3 million to support projects driven by, or in support of, students, youth, Indigenous Peoples and organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Climate Action Fund will strive to ensure that:

• Canadians are more aware of actions to address climate change;
• Youth, students, and Indigenous Peoples and organizations are engaged on clean growth and climate change initiatives; and
• Communities are better able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

The Climate Action Fund supports the key objectives of Canada’s national clean growth and climate action plan to make investments in climate solutions.

Last year, a pilot program, which has now become the Climate Action Fund, supported the following initiatives, among others:

• The Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council received funding to hold a major conference to educate youth on climate change and empower them to further their education in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
• The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters -- an industry and trade association -- received funding to support small and medium-sized businesses reduce their energy use and save money.   
• Vancouver-based Climate Smart produced an assessment of best practices in reducing emissions from small and medium-sized businesses. This year, submissions for the 2018-19 intake period are due on September 21, 2018, and funding decisions will be made in mid-autumn

Municipalities do not seem to be eligible for funding, but they can offer a great opportunity for communities to team with eligible groups to promote climate change programs. Eligible groups are listed below:

• full-time Canadian students, including undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students registered at Canadian colleges or universities
• Canadian youth between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) research, academic and educational institutions, indigenous peoples and organizations
• Canadian small and medium businesses with less than 500 employees
• industry and/or trade associations
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations, such as non-governmental organizations, professional, industry, community, and student/youth clubs or associations.

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Canadian Water and Wastewater Association