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A grant for local action on climate change in
Nova Scotia

The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is a provincial grant program for local action on climate change in Nova Scotia. It supports community efforts to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, or to prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate.

Learn more

Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund

A wide range of projects are eligible for funding, from forest and wildfire vulnerability assessments, to coastal restoration to renewable energy installations. The goal is to help communities lead their climate action.

Issues of equity, affordability, and health and wellness are closely connected to our climate challenges. Urgent action is needed in places throughout Nova Scotia, and the Fund presents an opportunity to include these important issues as part of the community-level climate change response.

Wind turbines

Who Can Apply?

The Fund is intended for community organizations and institutions. The following groups are eligible lead applicants:

  • Nova Scotia municipalities
  • First Nations bands and tribal councils
  • Post-secondary institutions
  • Registered non-profit organizations active in Nova Scotia

Collaboration, partnerships, and regional approaches between communities, organizations and sectors are encouraged.

Applications from organizations of Mi’kmaq peoples, African Nova Scotians, racialized peoples, immigrants, Acadians, individuals living on low incomes, individuals living with disabilities, older adults, youth, 2SLGBTQ+, and women will be favorably considered.

Low-barrier supports can be made available, on a case-by-case basis, to projects that directly involve and or benefit equity-deserving communities who disproportionately experience the negative effects of climate change and face barriers to mitigation efforts.

Projects in the Mitigation Stream seek to avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Nova Scotia’s targets for emission reduction. Focus areas under this stream include:

  • Buildings
  • Transportation
  • Energy generation and storage
  • Waste management and circular economy
  • Carbon storage and sequestration

Projects in the Adaptation Stream help communities improve their capacity to adapt to climate change, with the goal of reducing vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Focus areas under this stream include:

  • Built environment and climate-ready infrastructure
  • Ecosystems and nature-based solutions
  • Community coordination and planning