Province Helps Nova Scotians Prepare for Climate Change

NOTE: A list and description of the projects follows this release.

What do storm surge, maple sap, shellfish aquaculture and coastal erosion have in common? They're all projects receiving support through the province's Climate Change Adaptation Fund (CCAF).

The four recipients of this year's funding will help businesses and communities throughout the province better understand and adapt to the effects of climate change.

"Nova Scotia is a leader in the global response to climate change thanks to programs like the Climate Change Adaptation Fund," said Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau. "The program supports projects that assist businesses and communities identify challenges and opportunities connected to climate change. It also helps them become better prepared at responding to those changes."

Projects are chosen based on proposal quality and content, connection with fund objectives, how well the project engages business and community partners and ability to get funding and support from other sources.

Total funding for this year's program, which runs from April 1 to March, 2014, is $42,480. Candidates must submit progress reports and a final report. Project results will be posted online.

For more information on climate change and the adaptation fund, which was launched in 2009, visit http://climatechange.gov.ns.ca .

Following is a list of projects getting funding this year:

• Educating Communities on Storm Surge: Present and Future. A collaborative project between HMC/EMC Inc., Elemental Sustainability Consulting Ltd. and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, it received $6,880 to help communities correctly interpret present-day and projected storm surge when assessing flood risk.
• Climate Change Impacts on Maple Sap Flow and Yield. A partnership between Dalhousie University's School of Agriculture and the Maple Producers Association of Nova Scotia. The project received $25,000 from to better understand the effects of climate change on maple tree growth and sap and syrup yield.
• Determining Threat of Ocean Acidification for the Shellfish Aquaculture Industry in Nova Scotia. Dalhousie University's School for Resource and Environmental Studies received $5,500.
• Visualizing Coastal Erosion and Sea-level Rise. A joint project between Paul Maher, MPlan candidate at Dalhousie University's School of Planning, and the Ecology Action Centre, received $5,100.