Community Climate Capacity
Empowering Nova Scotian communities to increase their capacity and community resilience to take on climate challenges.Clean Foundation’s Community Climate Capacity Program, funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, provides communities with a dedicated staff of specialists who can help guide them through climate and sustainability initiatives at the local level.
Since launching in May 2023, Clean Foundation has welcomed 28 communities into the program. These communities receive dedicated support to identify climate challenges, develop policy and planning initiatives and help implement local adaptation and mitigation actions.
NEWMunicipal Climate Learning Group
Clean Foundation offeres municipalities across Nova Scotia the opportunity to join the Municipal Climate Learning Group (MCLG). Through the MCLG, participating municipalities gain access to tools, resources and peer learning to support local climate and sustainability initiatives.
Participating Communities
The Community Climate Capacity Program supports 28 communities across Nova Scotia. Click below to see the full list of participating communities in these areas.
View participating communities
- Cape Breton Regional Municipality
- Municipality of Barrington
- Municipality of Colchester
- Municipality of East Hants
- Municipality of Pictou County
- Municipality of St. Mary’s
- Municipality of the County of Annapolis
- Municipality of the County of Cumberland
- Municipality of the County of Richmond
- Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
- Municipality of the District of Shelburne
- Pictou County Partnership
- Region of Queens Municipality
- Town of Annapolis Royal
- Town of Antigonish
- Town of Kentville
- Town of Lockeport
- Town of Lunenburg
- Town of Mahone Bay
- Town of Middleton
- Town of New Glasgow
- Town of Pictou
- Town of Port Hawkesbury
- Town of Shelburne
- Town of Truro
- We’koqma’q First Nation
- West Hants Regional Municipality
- Weymouth Falls Community Land Trust
FAQ
These frequently asked questions are intended to answer some of the common inquiries about the Community Climate Capacity program.
What is the primary goal for Community Climate Capacity Program and how does Clean Foundation provide support for participating communities?
The primary goal of the Community Climate Capacity Program is to build capacity in communities to progress climate initiatives that will have a positive impact on their communities, regions and on the province at large.
Clean Foundation’s program team consists of Climate Leads, Community Navigators and Specialists with broad expertise in climate change and sustainability. Climate Leads and Community Navigators work to provide communities with direct and customized support, while Climate Specialists provide expertise and additional support in a variety of areas such as policy and planning, energy and mitigation, adaptation, project management, funding and engagement. Program managers support the direction of the program and liaise with program partners. Together, the team helps to identify climate challenges, develop policy and planning initiatives, and implement local adaptation and mitigation actions.
How were the communities announced selected for the Community Climate Capacity Program?
Communities were selected through a two-stage application process: an expression of interest that identified program eligibility, followed by an application process.
How much funding is provided to the participating communities for the Community Climate Capacity Program?
There is no direct funding to participating communities; what they receive is access to a team of climate specialists, including a climate lead or community navigator, and the broader team at Clean Foundation to support local climate initiatives.
There is no cost to communities to participate in the program.
How can the Community Climate Capacity Program help other municipalities become better prepared to respond to climate change?
In addition to supporting selected communities and municipalities, the Community Climate Capacity Program fosters collaboration, learning and skill development with communities across Nova Scotia. This is achieved several organized opportunities to connect with each other, including:
- Community of Practice – Open to participants of the Community Climate Capacity Program and provides regular opportunities for shared learnings and networking.
- Municipal Climate Learning Group – Open to all municipalities across Nova Scotia, offering participants opportunities to engage with climate specialists to deepen their understanding of climate action.
- Partners Summit – An event dedicated to networking and learning about climate work in the province.
These forums will support communities and municipalities at their current level of readiness and provide resources to further their climate work.
Check back on our website for more updates related to these events or reach out to ccc@cleanfoundation.ca.
What could the success look like for the Community Climate Capacity Program?
At the end of the project term (March 31, 2028), the 28 participating communities will have advanced their climate initiatives–such as improved energy efficiency and increasing their climate resilience. Overall, they will be positioned with capacity and competency to continue this work themselves.
Get in touch.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Community Climate Capacity program, reach out to us: ccc@cleanfoundation.ca
The Community Climate Capacity is supported by:
