2022-02-01
Canberrans looking to help reduce emissions and inspire change can now apply for a Community Zero Emissions Grant with $150,000 available to community groups and individuals.
The program provides funding for innovative and diverse projects that take action on climate change and support the ACT’s transition to a highly liveable, net zero emissions city by 2045.
“Community groups play an important role engaging and supporting Canberrans to reduce emissions and take action on climate change,” Minister for Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said. “We will not be able to meet our net zero emissions targets without the involvement and leadership of our community.
“Canberra is fortunate to have a strong community of climate change innovators, artists, educators and activists, who generate new ideas and solutions for how we can all reduce emissions and increase our resilience to the effects of climate change.
“Over the past four years, the grants have supported 23 unique projects across a range of priority emissions reduction sectors, focusing on active travel, zero emissions vehicles, waste reduction, composting and recycling, renewable energy, home energy efficiency and more.”
Previous grant recipients include:
- the Conservation Council ACT Region and the Canberra Environment Centre’s Make the Move initiative, which assisted people in the workplace to make sustainable transport choices;
- the Hackett Compost Collective to install a community composter;
- Rebus Theatre Inc for 'Inner Climate' to explore psychological, social and political issues related to lowering carbon emissions;
- Oz Harvest Limited to expand its capacity to store and redistribute surplus food.
“I am pleased that this year, for the first time, funding will be available for projects that increase the community’s resilience to the impacts of climate change,” Minister Rattenbury said.
“It is important that we support our community to prepare for and adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by equipping communities with the knowledge and tools they need.”
See information on previous grants and how to apply by visiting the Everyday Climate Choices website. Applications close 25 March 2022.
The following can be attributable to Ryan Lungu, Director of the Canberra Environment Centre:
“The Canberra Environment Centre’s mission is to empower people to create a sustainable future for the Canberra community by supporting lifelong behavioural change. Funding from Community Zero Emissions Grants has enabled us to run programs to help achieve this goal.
“In 2021, the grant funding allowed us to run a program in partnership with the Conservation Council ACT Region called ‘Make the Move’, which focused on helping Canberrans take up active travel options such as walking and cycling.
“In addition to ‘Make the Move’, the Canberra Environment Centre has run projects over the years in community composting, making accessible resources for culturally and linguistically diverse communities and running the Canberra Community Recyclery for volunteers to service and repair bikes.”