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OTTAWA (ON), Dec. 7, 2021/CNW/ – The current climate and ecological crisis in the world is unprecedented. Climate change is warming the planet and altering its water cycle. This results in extreme temperatures, flooding and droughts as well as wildfires. It’s also contributing to the destruction of our planet’s rich biodiversity, which negatively impacts our communities and our quality of life, and threatens the livelihoods of Canadians who rely on it. Protecting more of nature throughout the world CanadaThese issues are directly addressed
Nature-based solutions are one of the most powerful tools available to address climate change. They harness the power of Canada’sIt is essential that ecosystems are able to achieve key sustainability goals such as preventing biodiversity loss, increasing our resilience to extreme events, improving air quality, securing food supply, and capturing carbon emissions that cause climate change. For example, protecting wetlands helps to capture and store carbon while improving land management to make communities more resilient against extreme heat or flooding.
Building on Canada’s commitment to protect and conserve nature, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, today announced that applications are now being accepted for the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. With up to $200 million available over the next five years, the funding will help individuals and organizations reduce Canada’sBy conserving, restoring and improving the management of critical ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced. Supported projects will focus on restoring degraded ecosystems and conserving carbon-rich areas at high risk of conversion. Proposed projects would also improve land management practices, particularly in the urban, forest, and agriculture sectors. Funding applications for projects to be completed in 2022–2023 will be accepted until January 25, 2022.
Important work under the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund has already begun. It was launched in 2021. Fourteen 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 projectsDucks Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.
We can’t fight the climate or ecological crises without protecting nature—and initiatives like the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund are already making a difference in Canada’sProtect 25 percent of the oceans and lands by 2025; working towards 30 percent by 2030; building community resilience.
Quotes
“Canada is home to 24 percent of the world’s wetlands, 25 percent of temperate rainforest areas, and 28 percent of remaining boreal forests. These ecosystems are crucial for absorbing carbon, reducing the effects of climate change and protecting biodiversity. These ecosystems are vital for absorbing carbon and enhancing their resilience. We can make investments to help them conserve, restore and enhance them and support our climate change mitigation goals. Canada’sThe transition to a net zero economy by 2050 will help to stem biodiversity loss and promote green jobs.
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Quick facts
- The World Conservation Union defines nature-based solutions as “actions that protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal problems.”
- Over the next ten 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.
- These ecosystems provide habitat that is vitally important. Canada’sWildlife, including migratory birds, and species at-risk.
- The Government of CanadaIs it investing? $4 billion over the next ten years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund. Activities include:
- The 2 Billion Trees Commitment led by Natural Resources Canada ($3.19 billion);
- Nature Smart Climate Solutions led by Environment and Climate Change Canada ($631 million); and
- Agricultural Climate Solutions led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($185 million).
- Applicants may apply to the Sector-Based Policy stream, Place-Based Actions stream, or Reverse Auction stream.
- The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund is supported Canada’s goal to protect 25 percent of lands and 25 percent of oceans by 2025, working towards 30 percent by 2030.
Associated links
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Twitter page
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gabriel Brunet, Press Secretary at the Office of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, 819-665 6527. For more information. [email protected]Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3333 or 1-844-836-799 (toll-free), [email protected]
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