Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund

Who is eligible?

This grant is open to a wide range of applicants interested in projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through nature-based climate solutions. Eligible applicants include organizations and individuals from various sectors, as follows:

• National and international non-profit organizations, such as charities, volunteer groups, professional associations, and NGOs.
• Indigenous organizations and authorities, including non-profit and for-profit entities, councils, boards, and educational institutions.
• Provincial, territorial, municipal, and local governments and their agencies, including Crown corporations.
• National and international research, teaching, and educational institutions.
• Canadian individuals.
• National or international for-profit organizations, including small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, corporations, and industrial associations.
• Local organizations, such as community associations, senior and youth groups, and philanthropic clubs.

Who is not eligible

The grant is designed to support projects that align with Canada's emissions reduction plan and stipulates certain requirements and restrictions on applicants. However, no specific types of companies or industries have been explicitly excluded from applying based on their status or main activity within the provided context.

Eligible expenses

• Costs associated with projects that reduce the loss, restore, or improve the management of ecosystems
• Expenses related to halting or reducing the conversion of carbon-rich ecosystems to less carbon-rich ecosystems
• Costs for restoring carbon storage and biodiversity in converted or degraded ecosystems
• Expenses for reducing GHG emissions caused by natural resource use through implementing new forest harvesting management practices
• Costs related to developing policies, programs, or tools with key actors in priority sectors to reduce GHG emissions and improve biodiversity
• Costs for measuring and reporting on GHG outcomes from natural climate solutions
• Expenses associated with providing biodiversity and human well-being co-benefits
• Costs related to advancing science and knowledge on natural climate solutions in Canada

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available for projects within Canadian provinces and territories. The funding is aimed at ensuring alignment with regional climate goals.

• Projects located within the provinces of Canada.
• Projects situated in the territories of Canada.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The application process is ongoing until funds are exhausted for the fiscal year 2025-26, which means early submissions have a potential advantage.
• The funding provided can range from a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum of $50 million, emphasizing the wide range of project scales supported.
• For projects involving Indigenous applicants, encouraging but not requiring matching funds acknowledges the diverse financial contexts.
• Applicants must not only demonstrate a project's potential in reducing emissions but also handling biodiversity, Indigenous reconciliation, and human well-being co-benefits, highlighting a holistic approach to environmental solutions.
• Projects have to demonstrate and provide evidence for a 1:1 matching fund from non-federal sources to be favorably evaluated, pointing to a preference for collaborative funding structures.