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Climate Action and Awareness Fund

Details
Opportunity NameClimate Action and Awareness Fund
AgencyEnvironment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Value$250,000 to $5,000,000
Indirect CostsEligible at 20%
DurationUp to 5 years
Deadlines
Expression of Interest (EOI) due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review10-17-2023
EOI and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review10-24-2023
EOI and fully signed ORS checklist due at SIRI for mandatory review10-27-2023
EOI due at agency 10-31-2023, by 3:00PM
Objective

To support Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, projects that can create middle class jobs for Canadians who work in science and technology, academia, and at the grassroots community level. These projects are critical as we continue to build a sustainable net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

The projects funded by this expression of interest must align with one or more of the following priorities:  

1: Greening learning spaces: Ensure children and/or youth have access to natural spaces to foster understanding of the environment, climate change and conservation of biodiversity. Activities within this priority may include creating or improving green spaces and processes to support education and awareness that is participatory and place-based (subject to CAAF eligibility guidelines).   

2: Developing learning materials and opportunities: Encourage Canadians to embrace a life-long learning approach that integrates environmental education into informal curricula, technical and vocational education and training, workplace skills development, teaching materials, pedagogy, and assessment. This may include developing age-appropriate, educational materials that are inclusive and accessible to youth and educators. This could include, for example, offering place-based learning opportunities to young Canadians. 

3: Integrating environmental education into teacher training and educator professional development: Support and build the environmental literacy of school leaders and key education stakeholders by integrating climate and environmental education into teacher training and educator professional development. 

4: Improving research on environmental literacy and its impacts: Research the impact and accessibility of environmental literacy on children and youth, with a particular focus on underserved communities. This could include assessing how improved environmental literacy impacts GHG reduction; socio-emotional, cognitive, and action-oriented behavior; key performance indicators of school systems; as well as health and wellness amongst youth. 


Eligibility

Eligible lead applicants must be not-for-profit organizations, including:

  • non-governmental organizations (including registered charities, environmental community groups, etc.)
  • Indigenous organizations (i.e., national, provincial, territorial Indigenous organizations, Tribal councils, and Indigenous communities)
  • universities or academic institutions

In addition to the eligibility requirements, applying organizations must identify and clearly demonstrate in their application that they meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • have a core mandate to develop content and/or programs in the space of environmental education or literacy
  • have a proven ability to reach target audiences (children (ages 0–5), K-12 (or GECEP in Quebec) students, their families and/or educators)
  • work with or are from under-served communities (e.g., Indigenous, visible minorities and diversity groups)
  • have the ability to measure success through indicators, data, results and/or experimentation approaches

How to Apply

York University researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean’s signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed ORS checklist to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications – the process is outlined here.


For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca