Green Municipal Fund invests in 70 municipalities to strengthen climate resilience

Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Brittany Merrifield, Mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Board Member, announced about $5.2 million in investments through the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative. This investment will support 70 adaptation projects in several municipalities across Canada, 11 of which are being developed in Nova Scotia. These projects will strengthen climate resilience through climate adaptation plans, climate-focused asset management strategies, and community-wide climate risk assessments.

Communities across Canada are feeling the impacts of climate change right now—from increased flooding to severe storms and devastating wildfires. These events are the number one reason to act without delay to make communities more livable, resilient, and prepared for the impacts of climate change. The Government of Canada is taking proactive steps to build a clean, low-carbon, and resilient economy, supported by infrastructure that promotes healthy, affordable living, strengthens economic sustainability, and protects Canadian homes and businesses.

In partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, this investment will equip local governments with vital funding and skills development support, enabling long-term, proactive climate adaptation planning and project implementation, and ensuring more resilient communities and equitable access to climate adaptation resources—all as part of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

“Municipalities across Canada are on the front lines of responding to the realities of climate change,” said Minister Dabrusin. “The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), is stepping up to help communities tackle both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s risks. Through smart investments, proactive planning, and strong collaboration, we can build a sustainable economy and create communities that are more resilient, vibrant, and prosperous for generations to come.”

The Green Municipal Fund manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada to support municipal environmental priorities, including the new $530-million investment in community-based adaptation initiatives launched in November 2024. The $530-million investment was part of the over $2 billion in new federal funding commitments to help protect communities from coast to coast to coast to prepare for climate change under the National Adaptation Strategy.

“Communities across Canada are taking steps to safeguard the wellbeing of their communities in the face of growing and intensifying climate impacts,” said Rebecca Bligh, FCM President. “Investment in initiatives through the Green Municipal Fund empower local leaders to make climate risk assessments and adaptation strategies into decisive climate action.”

Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation Initiative Projects

Climate risk assessment and prioritized adaptation plan:

• County of Antigonish (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Municipality of Argyle (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Cape Breton Regional Municipality (Nova Scotia), $104,550
• Municipality of the County of Inverness (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Municipality of the County of Richmond (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Municipality of Victoria County (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Municipality of the District of Yarmouth (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Town of Yarmouth (Nova Scotia), $70,000
• Town of Channel-Port aux Basques (Newfoundland and Labrador), $70,000
• Town of Conception Bay South (Newfoundland and Labrador), $70,000
• Town of Placentia (Newfoundland and Labrador), $70,000
• Town of Portugal Cove-St.Philip’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), $70,000
• City of St.John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), $103,600
• Town of Stephenville (Newfoundland and Labrador), $70,000

Climate Readiness Initiative:

• Town of Bishop’s Falls (Newfoundland and Labrador), $55,398
• Community of Bryant’s Cove (Newfoundland and Labrador) in Partnership with Upper Island Cove and Spaniard’s Bay, $62,050
• Town of Eastport (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Terrenceville, $65,745
• Town of Embree (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Little Burnt Bay, $67,249
• Town of Garnish (Newfoundland and Labrador), $62,026
• Town of Grand Bank (Newfoundland and Labrador), $55,967
• Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador), $66,488
• Town of Hawke’s Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Port au Choix, Port Saunders, and River of Ponds, $66,139
• Town of Logy Bay, Middle Cove, Outer Cove (Newfoundland and Labrador), $55,977
• Town of Long Harbour-Mount Arlington Heights (Newfoundland and Labrador), $66,416
• Town of Mount Carmel-Mitchells Brook-St. Catherine’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), $66,581
• Town of Port Saunders (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Port au Choix, Hawke’s Bay and River of Ponds, $66,689
• Town of River of Ponds (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Port au Choix, Hawke’s Bay and Port Saunders, $65,698
• Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Irishtown-Summerside, $69,578
• Town of Spaniard’s Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Upper Island Cove and Bryant’s Cove, $67,617
• Town of Upper Island Cove (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Spaniard’s Bay and Bryant’s Cove, $66,838
• Town of Winterton (Newfoundland and Labrador), $52,324
• Town of Birchy Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Leading Tickles, $66,214
• Town of Irishtown-Summerside (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Roddickton-Bide Arm, $67,327
• Town of Little Burnt Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Embree, $65,744
• Town of Port au Choix (Newfoundland and Labrador) in partnership with Port Saunders, Hawke’s Bay and River of Ponds, $66,605

Climate risk assessment and adaptation plans:

• Town of Altona (Manitoba), $70,000
• City of Dauphin (Manitoba), $70,000
• Town of Winnipeg Beach (Manitoba), $70,000

Climate Risk Assessment and Climate Adaptation Plan:

• City of Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan), $70,000

Climate Adaptation Plan:

• Village of Keremeos (British Columbia), $69,723
• Town of Hay River (Northwest Territories), $70,000
• Town of East Gwillimbury (Ontario) $70,000

Creating a climate change adaptation plan:

• Town of Tantramar (New Brunswick), $70,000

Climate Adaptation Plan Update and Implementation Plan:

• Regional Municipality of Durham (Ontario), $140,000

Weather-Ready Climate Adaptation Plan:

• County of Wellington (Ontario), $105,000

Ready for Action – Training, Partnerships, Resources and Plans to Implement Climate Adaptation Plan:

• Grey County (Ontario), $105,000

Climate Adaptation Plan and Assest Management Report:

• Town of Niverville (Manitoba), $70,000

Climate Adaptation Strategy Renewal:

• City of Thunder Bay (Ontario), $104,000

Climate Risk Assessment:

• Town of Kentville (Nova Scotia), $70,000

Climate Change Risk Assessment:

• Village of Muenster (Saskatchewan), $70,000

Climate Risk Assessment and Capacity Development:

• Town of Shelburne (Nova Scotia), $70,000

Climate Risk Screening Assessments for Critical Municipal Building Infrastructure:

• City of Ottawa (Ontario), $140,000

Building the Foundations for Climate Resilience:

• County of Brant (Ontario), $70,000

Advancing Adaptation and Resilience:

• City of Stratford (Ontario), $70,000

Climate change adaptation and resilience plan:

• City of New Westminster (British Columbia) $105,000

Climate adaptation and resiliency action plan:

• Town of Ponoka (Alberta), $70,000

Developing an Adaptation and Resiliency Plan:

• County of Northumberland (Ontario), $76,993

Climate Resilience Initiative:

• Town of Hermitage-Sandyville (Newfoundland and Labrador), $60,719

Development of a Climate Resilience Strategy and Implementation Plan:

• City of Mississauga (Ontario), $140,000

Community Climate Action Plan – Adaptation Section:

• City of Morden (Manitoba), $70,000

Creating a local Climate action plan:

• County of Oxford (Ontario), $83,250

Developing a climate change action plan:

• Town of Georgina (Ontario), $60,406

Increasing Staff Capacity for Climate Adaptation:

• Town of Pictou (Nova Scotia), $70,000

Capture natural assets and develop a climate adaptation strategy:

• Village of Montrose (British Columbia), $70,000
• Town of Three Rivers (Prince Edward Island), $70,000

Integrate Natural Asset and Climate Adaptation into the Asset Management Program:

• Village of Warfield (British Columbia), $70,000

Development of Climate Adaptation Documents and Resources:

• Town of Collingwood (Ontario), $70,000

Vulnerability Assessment of the Urban Heat Island Effect and Associated Factors:

• City of Saint John (New Brunswick), $63,021

Vulnerability Assessment of the Logan East Valley Aquifer:

• City of Yorkton (Saskatchewan), $70,000

Resilient Clarington: A Roadmap to a Climate-Ready Community:

• Municipality of Clarington (Ontario), $105,000

For further information, visit: Green Municipal Fund

Featured photo credit: Getty Images