Source: Government of Canada News (2)
July 22, 2025 – Vancouver, British Columbia
From protecting our wildlife to conserving our forested areas, young Canadians play a big part in tackling climate change. Still, they can be better equipped to do so through enhanced access to resources and environmental education. We are committed to providing young people with the knowledge and skills to create sustainable solutions to environmental challenges as we work toward a clean, net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $14.4 million from the Environmental Damages Fund’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund to support 17 environmental literacy projects across Canada. These projects will develop the tools and skills young Canadians need as they work toward solutions to fight climate change.
The Minister announced the funding in Vancouver while visiting one of the funding recipients, BC Parks Foundation. They are receiving $1.8 million to develop the environmental literacy and leadership of young Canadians in British Columbia. This project will provide opportunities for students across the province to learn about and take positive steps to mitigate climate change and improve biodiversity in parks and protected areas, as well as in their school grounds and classrooms. In addition to the funding from the Climate Action and Awareness Fund, BC Parks Foundation is receiving $1.5 million from the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and Parks for this project. This funding complements the investment made by BC Parks Foundation. The project is a promising example of provincial-federal-private collaboration on environmental learning.
Indigenous communities and organizations, academia, community organizations, and environmental organizations are leading the projects receiving funding today. The projects include creating learning opportunities in parks, holding community outreach events, and developing learning materials for young Canadians and their educators. This will help increase awareness of the local environment and demonstrate how residents can make an impactful difference in their communities. Of the funding announced today, $3.2 million is dedicated to Indigenous-led projects, aiming to provide Indigenous youth with environmental education that intertwines both Traditional Knowledge and western climate science.