Ontario — The Government of Canada says it’s continuing to support communities in taking meaningful action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
That’s why Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, announced that over $3.3 million from the Environmental Damages Fund’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund will be invested in nine projects in four provinces and territories across Canada. These projects will help develop knowledge, tools, and skills to engage communities in climate action.
Canada is a North American country stretching from the U.S. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north. Major cities include massive Toronto, west coast film centre Vancouver, French-speaking Montréal and Québec City, and capital city Ottawa.
These nine projects will help support Canada’s climate goals, including achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Led by eight non-governmental organizations and one university, these projects will focus on community-based climate action to fight climate change at the local level by:
- engaging more than 95,000 participants, including 65,000 students and educators, in project activities or events related to building capacity for climate action;
- protecting and maintaining wetlands as natural resources for potential carbon storage, flood attenuation and water storage capacities;
providing workshops on various energy efficiency and solar energy options; - developing climate change adaptation plans while building community capacity and providing watershed expertise;
- planting trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and wildflowers to attract pollinators while promoting biodiversity;
- promoting education and awareness of climate change impacts and mitigation practices while considering local and traditional perspectives.
The Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund is funding this project through its Climate Action and Awareness Fund. This fund was created from the historic $196.5 million fine Volkswagen paid for circumventing Canada’s environmental protection rules—the largest environmental fine in Canadian history.
“These projects are a clear example of how working together at the grassroots, community level is supporting and educating our youth and ultimately creating a cleaner, more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. “As we continue our celebrations for Canadian Environment Week, this announcement reminds us that we must work collectively to create and maintain a healthy environment that can be enjoyed by all for generations to come.”
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