Department of Natural Resources
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Released: 04 November, 2003

Government of Canada Announces $1 Million Investment in Climate Change Partnerships

OTTAWA, November 4, 2003 – The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, announced today a total of $1 million in funding for 21 projects sponsored by businesses, industries and communities across Canada.

The workplace campaigns highlight a series of new projects being launched under the Public Education and Outreach component of the Climate Change Action Fund.

Thousands of Canadians will soon have access to a new kind of “on the job training” thanks to a series of initiatives being launched by their employers. Among others, Bell Canada, the City of Edmonton, Suncor and Shell Canada will implement workplace programs to raise awareness of climate change, and encourage their employees to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all their daily activities.

“ Since it was launched in 1998, the Public Education and Outreach component of the Climate Change Action Fund has been a key partner in dozens of innovative projects in all regions of Canada,” said Minister Anderson. “Canadians tell us they want to take action on climate change, but need to know more about what they can do to reduce emissions at home, at work and on the road. These partnerships help to meet that need.”

These projects will help to ensure individual Canadians have the tools and information they need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), cut their energy costs and contribute to clean air, and demonstrate the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to work with all Canadians in implementing the Climate Change Plan for Canada.

“ Partnerships are key to finding solutions to climate change,” said Minister Dhaliwal. “This new investment involves a range of new and important partners, such as Shell Canada, Bell and Alcoa, in increasing climate change awareness in numerous communities across Canada.”

The Climate Change Plan for Canada asks each Canadian to reduce their emissions by 20 per cent about one tonne. Through outreach activities in the workplace and in communities, many of the projects supported by this announcement will encourage individuals to take up this challenge, complementing the $1 billion investment in climate change partnerships with Canadians announced by the Government of Canada in August of this year.

The Government of Canada established the CCAF to take concrete steps to engage Canadians, non governmental organizations, businesses, universities, communities and various levels of government in partnerships to promote climate change understanding, action and adaptation. The $150 million CCAF was introduced in 1998 and renewed with a second investment of $150 million in Budget 2000. This new investment in partnerships with business and industry, and communities, represents the final phase of the CCAF PEO.

The CCAF PEO program provides an integrated investment approach focused on partnerships and government leadership for action. Working in four general streams communities, youth and educators, business and industry, and the public CCAF PEO contributes to the achievement of the Government of Canada's overall objective of reducing GHG emissions by increasing public awareness and understanding of climate change and providing Canadians with the information they need to take action.

Related Document:

• Climate Change Action Fund Public Education and Outreach Projects [Backgrounder]

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