Climate Action Fund: key success stories

Spotlight on 2018 funding recipients

The 2018 Climate Action Fund campaign is supporting 25 initiatives across the country. Here, we turn the spotlight on these initiatives helping to increase action and raise awareness of climate change.

Clean Foundation’s Clean Climate Action School: class in session

Project title:  Clean Climate Action School

Nova Scotia’s Clean Foundation’s Clean Climate Action School is teaching students the ABCs of climate change.

Middle school students are being given a unique learning experience based on science and the teachings of the Mi’kmaq–one of the first Indigenous people of Canada’s Atlantic provinces. The EnviroEd program encourages critical thinking and explores practical ways they can help fight climate change by learning how to:

• create less waste
• use less energy, and
• build a better future

The program will help young students be more aware of the need for climate change actionThe Clean Foundation received support from the Government of Canada’s Climate Action Fund for its Clean Climate Action School.

This green school:

• instills environmental awareness
• creates the desire for climate change action in young students
• explores Climate Action activities
• shows students potential career choices in climate change and justice
• may inspire a future justice league of climate action fighters

“Thanks to the generous contributions of the Climate Action Fund, Clean Foundation will be visiting schools across Nova Scotia to present our new workshop, “Clean Climate Action School”. This program provides students the opportunity to understand the often complex topic of climate change through hands-on activities, and encourages students to see themselves as agents of change.”
 – Shannon Harding, Director of Programs, Clean Foundation

Connect with Clean Foundation

Ecology Ottawa: Ambassadors of Change

Project title: Youth Climate Change Ambassador Program

Ottawa is about to get more green! The next generation of environmental leaders want to make Ottawa the greenest capital in the world. Mission impossible? No way says Ecology Ottawa. The answer to this mission is the creation of the Youth Climate Change Ambassador program.

Like many grassroots organizations, Ecology Ottawa relies heavily on volunteers to fulfil its mandate: making Ottawa the “green capital of Canada.” With help from the Climate Action Fund, Ecology Ottawa will be taking their green goals global. The Youth Climate Change Ambassador program is an extensive training program for young leaders passionate about the environment. Over the next year, 40 young individuals from the nation’s capital will get exposure to climate-related expertise and ideas, while building new leadership skills. All this will help to turn Ecology Ottawa’s vision into the reality of Ottawa becoming the world’s greenest capital.

The ambassadors will have opportunities to put their training into action by holding four public events, and making presentations in schools on climate action.

“Ecology Ottawa is thrilled to receive Climate Action funding in support of our new Youth Climate Ambassadors program: a year-long project dedicated to equipping young people from across Ottawa with the skills and knowledge necessary to take on climate change at a local level. The Youth Climate Ambassadors program is designed to cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders, foster deep connections with a diverse range of local climate advocates, and involve the public through youth-driven, peer-to-peer engagement.”
– Robb Barnes, Executive Director, Ecology Ottawa

To help in raising awareness of climate change, Ecology Ottawa will receive up to $125,000 in funding through the Climate Action Fund. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the funding on February 15, 2019 in Ottawa, ON.

Connect with Ecology Ottawa

Green Building Council: how architects can help make Canada more green

Project title: Accelerating to Zero Carbon

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is working to greatly reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions caused by buildings. The CaGBC is accelerating its green plans for homes, businesses, and communities across Canada.  In fact, CaGBC is working to redesign our architectural landscape by making Zero Carbon Buildings a reality.

The first step in building (literally) a more sustainable future is to increase knowledge, promote the design and use of these types of buildings. In Canada, buildings cause 12% of greenhouse gas emissions.

The goal is to make Zero Carbon Buildings the norm.  In 2017, CaGBC launched the Zero Carbon Building Standard to provide solutions to help reach Canada’s climate change commitments, and help existing and new buildings achieve zero carbon.

“The Canada Green Building Council is pleased to be a recipient of the ECCC’s Climate Action Fund that will support Canada’s role as a leader in constructing or retrofitting buildings to zero carbon. This innovation in Canada’s building sector will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease the need for fossil fuels, and support the transition to a clean energy economy. The funding will increase the knowledge and skill of architectural, engineering, technology and renewable energy firms in applying low carbon measures to the design and construction of buildings across Canada.”
– Thomas Mueller, CEO and President of Canada Green Building Council

To help in its fight for climate change, CaGBC will receive up to $496,333 from the Climate Action Fund. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the funding in February, 2019.

Connect with Canada Green Building Council

Random Acts of Green: With this app it’s easy being green

Project title: Random Acts of Green® Mobile App

You’ve heard of random acts of kindness? Well, just a few random acts of green can help you have a greener life and healthier community. Through the Climate Action Fund, Random Acts of Green® is receiving up to $200,000 to launch a mobile app to help people lead greener lives.

The Peterborough based organization created the app to encourage Canadians to participate in “Acts of Green.” The app provides tips on how people can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The focus is on simple, everyday actions like choosing to carpool or walk to work. The app demonstrates the power people have to create change.

As a social enterprise, Random Acts of Green® makes it their mission to empower people to help fight climate change. This new app will help t reach a wider audience, and motivate even more people to make green friendly choices. By partnering with sponsors, Random Acts of Green® is able to offer app users a “Green Point” per green act. The points are later redeemed for discounts on products/services/gifts from various sponsors.

“I am grateful for the Government of Canada’s funding that will allow the Random Acts of Green App® to spread across the country. This innovative tool will provide Canadians with a list of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By working with organizations and businesses in our communities, each and every Canadian can make a difference for the health and future of our planet.”
– Jessica Correa, Founder & CEO Random Acts of Green, Inc.

Funding for the Random Acts of Green® Mobile App was announced April 18, 2019, in Peterborough, ON. The announcement was made by the Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Maryam Monsef, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna.

Connect with Random Acts of Green®

The Climate Action Fund provides up to $3 million to support projects delivered by:

• students
• youth
• Indigenous peoples and organizations
• not-for-profit organizations
• small and medium-sized enterprises
• research and educational institutions.

Find out more about CAF and how you can get involved on the Climate Action Fund page.

See highlights from the current Climate Action Fund campaign.