Nova Scotia Introducing Two New Funding Programs to help Communities, Homeowners Address Climate Change

May 15, 2023

The Province is investing in two new programs that will help Nova Scotians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and better prepare for climate change.

Clean Foundation will receive almost $5.4 million to deliver the new community and homeowner programs, Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman announced today, May 9, in Dartmouth.

“Nova Scotians expect action to address the global climate change emergency and help them adapt,” said Minister Halman. “Our climate plan and risk assessment identified the importance of local action to respond to climate change and its impacts, such as flooding, and our communities have the expertise to understand where and how they need to take action on climate change. These programs will support more community-led action going forward.”

Most of the funding – $5 million – is for the Community Climate Capacity Support Program, which will help communities act on their climate change priorities. Climate change co-ordinators will assist communities with their projects.

Nearly $400,000 will be invested to pilot a resilient home retrofit program to address the risk of flooding caused by climate change. This pilot program will be offered in partnership with the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Town of New Glasgow.

These programs are funded by the Province’s climate change plan. Both programs will increase Nova Scotians’ knowledge and ability to act on climate-related priorities and help create more sustainable communities across the province.

Quick Facts:

• communities across the province will be able to apply; the climate change co-ordinators will work with selected communities on their projects for a three-year period
• the pilot program for homeowners will include public engagement and retrofits for 20 homes at no cost to the homeowner
• these programs advance actions 5 and 8 of Nova Scotia’s climate plan – to help homeowners understand and respond to climate risks such as flooding, as well as increase climate change adaptation capacity in communities through hiring climate change co-ordinators

Additional Resources:

Clean Foundation: https://cleanfoundation.ca/

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

Nova Scotia’s climate risk assessment – Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/climate-change-risk-report.pdf

Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/64th_1st/3rd_read/b057.htm

Ministerial Mandate Letter: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-ECC-TPB.pdf

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