Communities across Nova Scotia are receiving more support from the Province and Clean Foundation to bring their climate change priorities to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, May 9, Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman and Scott Skinner, President and CEO of Clean Foundation, announced the first 12 projects to be supported through the Community Climate Capacity program at the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Spring Conference in Baddeck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClimate change is impacting Nova Scotians,\u201d said Minister Halman. \u201cLocal leadership and action is our best defence to make sure communities are prepared and proactively responding to protect homes, businesses, infrastructure, our coastline and coastal communities, and natural areas. This program will provide the knowledge and capacity that is needed to help communities, including those along the coast, adapt to, and mitigate the impacts of, climate change and become more resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 12 projects involve 16 municipalities, one Mi\u2019kmaw community and two community organizations. A dedicated team of climate change experts will help them with the projects over the next three years. In addition, those experts are available to all municipalities to provide climate change educational and capacity-building support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other ways the Province is helping communities become resilient to climate change include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs communities across Nova Scotia struggle with the impacts of climate change, collaborative efforts are essential to support resilience and sustainability. The Community Climate Capacity program, supported by the Province, empowers municipalities, First Nation communities and community groups to build crucial climate change response capacity. Through dedicated expertise and collaboration, we are fostering a greener, more resilient future for all Nova Scotians.\u201d \u201cWith assistance from the Community Climate Capacity program, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be able to help accelerate our climate change response. It is hoped that this funding will give us the capacity to identify natural assets including wetlands, forests and watersheds that are providing real services like flood protection and green spaces.\u201d \u201cIn our beautiful culture, we honour the past, present and future by thinking of the seven generations ahead. We are making choices today that benefit them all and improve the quality of life. We are striving for a greener future, remembering the wisdom of our ancestors and thinking of the seven generations yet to come. Our actions today shape the world for the next seven generations, and by considering them, we embrace the true essence of sustainability. We\u2019re working together with the Community Climate Capacity team to be strong stewards of the Earth in We\u2019koqma\u2019q First Nation for all future generations, creating a legacy of care and a better quality of life.\u201d \u201cRural municipalities have small and dynamic teams. The opportunity to have additional resources to move climate action forward is going to have a positive impact here in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary\u2019s and across Nova Scotia. Our participation in the Community Climate Capacity program will enable the updating of our 2021 Climate Change Action Plan, of which a key focus will be to use the data from the municipal flood-line mapping program to inform coastal hazards, adaptation actions and associated funding opportunities.\u201d \u201cKentville is working hard to create a lasting framework that will embed sustainability and resilience into all of its work. Staff support on these issues is the most effective way to accomplish this. During the next three years, we will receive support through the Community Climate Capacity program, which will give us access to the qualified and knowledgeable staff we need to get the work done.\u201d \u201cCommunities across Nova Scotia are struggling with the capacity to take meaningful action against climate change. Through the Community Climate Capacity program, Clean Foundation will be providing staffing support in the form of planners, adaptation specialists and climate experts to help 19 communities identify and work towards their climate initiatives. The expertise and learnings gained from this work will be shared with all municipalities so that everyone benefits as we move forward to build more climate resilient communities in our province.\u201d Community Climate Capacity program: https:\/\/cleanfoundation.ca\/ccc\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Future of Nova Scotia\u2019s Coastline: A plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change: https:\/\/novascotia.ca\/coastal-climate-change\/docs\/coastline-plan.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https:\/\/nslegislature.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/legc\/statutes\/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, President, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Amanda McDougall-Merrill, Mayor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Carrie Michael, Green Initiative Co-ordinator, We\u2019koqma\u2019q First Nation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Greg Wier, Warden, Municipality of the District of St. Mary\u2019s<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Jennifer West, Deputy Clerk, Town of Kentville<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Scott Skinner, President and CEO, Clean Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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