Local communities around the Columbia Basin care deeply about the environment and the impacts of climate change. To support Basin communities in preparing for, responding to and adapting to challenges associated with our changing environment, the Trust has created a new Climate Resilience Program for collaborative projects in the region.
“People in the region have made it clear that the Trust needs to support our communities to become more climate resilient and we are pleased to announce this new program specifically for that purpose,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO of the Trust. “We recognize climate resilience as an integrated priority in all the work we do, and will be announcing further initiatives as we continue to address climate resilience at a local and regional level.”
The $1.5-million grant program will support large-scale, multi-year initiatives led by local governments, First Nations or non-profits in the Basin. Climate Resilience project concepts could include initiatives like low-carbon transportation, organic waste diversion, flood mitigation, alternative energy and emissions, among others. On-the-ground actions ready or nearly ready to implement will be considered rather than projects solely focused on education, research or planning.
This new program is just one of the ways the Trust is addressing climate resilience in the Basin. The Trust has integrated climate resilience into its strategic priorities by supporting:
– wildfire risk reduction through the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction Program;
– energy retrofits, repairs and alternative energy generation at community-purpose buildings through the Non-profit Sustainability Program;
– energy retrofits in affordable housing in the Basin through the Energy Retrofit Program;
– healthy, diverse and resilient ecosystems through the Ecosystem Enhancement Program;
– businesses fostering climate resilience through Basin Rev-Up; and
– improved access to local food through the Food Access and Recovery Grants.
To find out more about this program and the application process, visit ourtrust.org/climateresilience or contact climateresilience@ourtrust.org or 1.800.505.8998.
Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1.800.505.8998.
