GHG Emissions  -  December 8, 2021

Canadian Government to Spend $200 Million on GHG Emissions Reduction

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault,  announced that applications are now being accepted for the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, which will make $200 million available over the next five years to help organizations and individuals reduce Canada’s GHG emissions by conserving, restoring and enhancing the management of critical ecosystems. The projects that will receive funding will focus on restoring degraded ecosystems and conserving carbon-rich areas at high risk of conversion. They will also focus on improving land management practices, especially in the agriculture, forest, and urban development sectors. The deadline for applications is January 25, 2022 for projects to be completed in 2022–2023.

The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund was launched earlier in 2021 and 14 projects received funding in 2021–2022 and are projected to conserve up to 30,000 hectares, restore up to 6,000 hectares and contribute to the enhanced management of up to 18,000 hectares of wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas. The fund will provide over $71 million over three years for projects, including three Prairies-based projects with Ducks Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.

Canada’s goal is to protect 25% of lands and oceans by 2025 with a goal of 30% by 2030. 

“Canada is home to 24% of the world’s wetlands, 25% of temperate rainforest areas and 28% of remaining boreal forests,” said Guilbeault in a statement. “These ecosystems are globally significant for absorbing carbon, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and protecting biodiversity. Investments to conserve, restore, and enhance these vital ecosystems and increase their resilience support our targets to address climate change and contribute to Canada’s efforts to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050, help stem biodiversity loss, and contribute to job creation in the green economy.”

During the next 10 years (2021–2031), the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund will support projects to restore, enhance, and conserve inland and coastal wetlands, peatlands, grasslands, and forests to capture and store carbon and to update policies, programs, and tools to better enable nature-based climate solutions. The Canadian government is investing $4 billion over the next 10 years in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund.