News release

Funding Supports Climate Change Projects

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

The province is investing $23,000 in three projects that will help Nova Scotians adapt to climate change.

The projects are receiving support from the province's Climate Change Adaptation Fund, which helps research local impacts and identify solutions.

"Nova Scotians have some very impressive and inventive ideas to contribute," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Environment. "These projects will help to protect our environment and communities from the impacts of climate change while showcasing local solutions."

A joint report from the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, released Oct. 5, shows how climate change could affect the country's landscape. The report reinforces the need for local action on climate change.

Halifax Regional Municipality will use a $5,000 grant to prepare for climate change emergencies by identifying and mapping community risks in rural areas.

"The project will allow us to strengthen community preparedness for potential Climate Change related impacts” says Kathy Cooper-MacDonald, environmental performance officer with HRM. "We want people to have a good understanding of potential threats, impacts and ways to protect and prepared themselves for weather related emergencies."

Ecology Action Centre received $10,000 to do a needs assessment on communicating climate change adaptation to cottage owners along the Northumberland Strait.

"People who live along the coast see that change is happening and are already thinking about how to adapt," said Jennifer Graham, coastal co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre. "This research project will help develop effective ways to communicate important information about climate change and shoreline change to coastal property owners."

Applied Geomatics Research Group at Nova Scotia Community College is receiving $8,000 to train regional emergency management officials to document and mark high-water locations after flood events, and build a database and for future reference and planning.

"Our present storm surges and high water levels have a lot to tell us about the expected future impacts of climate change," said Tim Webster with the Applied Geomatics Research Group. "Working with regional emergency planners, we will identify flood risk areas and monitor high water storm surge events to better prepare for future sea-level rise conditions under a changing climate."

The CCAF was launched in July with projects to be completed by March 31. The grants are in addition to the $612,000 the province is investing in adaptation over the next three years through the Atlantic Climate Adaption Solutions Project.

To learn more about what the province is doing to address climate change visit www.climatechange.gov.ns.ca.