Nova Scotia invests in new climate change programs

CITYnews halifax \ By Maryanne McLarty

The province is investing in two new programs that will help Nova Scotians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment and Climate Change Minister, Timothy Halman, announced Tuesday that the clean foundation will receive about $5.4 million to deliver the new community and homeowner programs.

“Our climate plan and risk assessment identified the importance of local action to respond to climate change and its impacts, such as flooding, and our communities have the expertise to understand where and how they need to take action on climate change,” said Halman. “These programs will support more community-led action going forward.”

The province says $5 million of the funding will go to the Community Climate Capacity Support Program, where climate change coordinators will help communities act on their climate change priorities.

They say about $400,000 will be invested to pilot a resilient home retrofit program to address the risk of flooding caused by climate change. This project will be offered in partnership with the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Town of New Glasgow.

Communities across the province will be able to apply and climate change coordinators will work with the selected communities on their projects for a three-year period.