Government of Canada commits $12.5 million in funding in new collaboration with philanthropic organizations to support environmental literacy projects across Canada

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 4, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada is committed to providing young Canadians with the knowledge and skills they need to better understand and cope with the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that the Government of Canada will invest $12.5 million from the Environmental Damages Fund's Climate Action and Awareness Fund in an innovative partnership with the philanthropic community to help grow environmental literacy across Canada. The funding will support projects that will increase the scientific knowledge and environmental literacy of young Canadians, their educators, and families, as part of the long-term solutions to tackle climate change. A portion of the funding will be dedicated to Indigenous-led initiatives. 

To boost the value of this investment, Environment and Climate Change Canada is partnering with several philanthropic organizations that are committing to matching the Government of Canada's funding of eligible projects. Strong collaborations with trusted partners in the field of environmental education and literacy will help make long-term gains in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Environmental literacy is a significant—and often overlooked—part of mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. Funded projects will develop knowledge, tools, and/or skills for young Canadians, their families, and their educators with the overall goals of equipping youth for the future and supporting Canada's goals for climate action, such as achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To be eligible for funding, projects must align with one of the following four priorities: greening learning spaces, developing learning materials and opportunities, integrating environmental education into teacher training and educator professional development, or improving research on environmental literacy and its impacts. Expressions of interest will be accepted through the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System until October 31, 2023.

Quotes

"Nearly every aspect of a young person's future will be affected by climate—their jobs, their homes, energy use, transportation, food, water, health, personal security, and more. Environmental literacy is a key to understanding and further developing innovative solutions to climate change. We need to empower young Canadians, their educators, and families, providing them with the skills and information they need to thrive in a future shaped by climate challenges."

– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• Environmental literacy is a key goal of environmental learning. It refers to the ability to understand and consider how human activities, ecological systems, and the changing climate are connected. Environmental literacy involves understanding not only climate science and environmental forces at work, but also sustainable practices and the ethical and social aspects of environmental challenges.
• Improving access to quality environmental education will increase Canadians' level of environmental literacy.
• Improving environmental literacy will equip young Canadians with the skills they need to understand and cope with the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
• The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada and provides a mechanism for directing funds received from fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada's natural environment.
• Established in 2020 and administered under the Environmental Damages Fund, the Climate Action and Awareness Fund is investing up to $206 million over five years to support Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. These projects are critical to building a sustainable net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

Associated links

• Environmental Damages Fund
• Climate Action and Awareness Fund

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Oliver Anderson, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-962-0686, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]