The Trudeau government is investing $530 million to help municipalities adapt to climate change.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, made the announcement Monday in Ottawa, accompanied by the Minister of Civil Protection, Harjit S. Sajjan.
This sum is one of the largest ever granted for this purpose, according to the government, and it will be used to finance 1,400 municipal projects to adapt to climate change by 2031.
These projects will aim to build more resilient infrastructure to cope with floods, storms and wildfires that are becoming more frequent with climate change.
The amount will be invested in the Green Municipal Fund, which finances sustainable development projects in municipalities. The fund says it has approved 2,100 sustainable development projects since its launch in 2000.
The Trudeau government says it has invested $6.6 billion in adaptation to climate change since 2015.
Municipalities “on the front line”
Municipalities are increasingly faced with natural disasters and several local leaders have complained of having few means to manage these situations.
The Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) had asked the Quebec government for $2 billion per year to adapt to the changing climate, but Prime Minister François Legault had only granted them a fraction of this amount.
The Climate Institute of Canada estimates that every dollar invested in adaptation to climate change generates benefits of $13 to $15.
“In the fight against climate change, municipalities are on the front line, and they are best placed to know the local challenges and their solutions affecting neighborhoods, transportation and businesses,” said Minister Guilbeault in a communicated.
“With wise investments, long-term planning and effective consultation, we can support communities already experiencing the effects of climate change and help them make the future more sustainable and prosperous for future generations. »