Action and awareness success stories

We turn the spotlight on initiatives helping to increase action and raise awareness of climate change.

Success stories: Climate Action and Awareness Fund

Spotlight on successful funding recipients (to come).

Success stories: Climate Action Fund (2018-2020)

From 2018 to 2020, the Climate Action Fund provided up to $3 million annually to support projects delivered by students, youth, Indigenous peoples and organizations, not-for-profit organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research and educational institutions.

Here, we turn the spotlight on a few of 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 action. The 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

Learn more about 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. Former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the funding on February 15, 2019 in Ottawa, ON.

Learn more about 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. Former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the funding in February, 2019.

Learn more about 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 former Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Maryam Monsef, on behalf of the former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna.

Learn more about Random Acts of Green®

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan

Project title: Little Green Thumbs Garden-Based Climate Education

Kids across Canada are getting their hands dirty and parents and teachers do not seem to mind.

After all, it is all in the name of education. Little Green Thumbs is an indoor gardening program for students in grades 3 to 6. By teaching kids how to grow their own food, they also learn about healthy eating and caring for the environment. The program is growing with teachers across Canada who are adding this hands-on learning experience to their classrooms.

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) was selected as a 2018 Climate Action Fund recipient for the Little Green Thumbs program. This funding gave students the opportunity to connect to the environment, and foster awareness of agriculture and food. In 2018, the program reached over 2,000 teachers, almost 74,000 students across 640 schools in Saskatchewan.

Since 2018, AITC-SK has continued to manage and grow Little Green Thumbs nationally, providing teachers with indoor light kits, garden supplies, classroom resources, and training.

“The hands-on nature of our garden naturally lends itself to children asking questions and then monitoring our garden for answers on a continual basis. The excitement and motivation tied to growing your own plants significantly increases interest in learning.”

– Karen Lissina, teacher in Edmonton and one of many using the Little Green Thumbs program in her classroom.

Learn more about Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan and Little Green Thumbs