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Climate change the focus of many environmental projects

Author: UNB Newsroom

Posted on Jul 31, 2019

Category: UNB Saint John , UNB Fredericton

June 2019 set a global record as being the hottest in 140 years. Increasingly frequent and intense heat waves are linked to manmade climate change with temperature records not just being broken, they are being smashed.

The University of New Brunswick hosted the Environmental Trust Fund as they announced an investment of $2.5 million into more than 60 projects focusing on climate change. The funding is part of an overall investment of $8.4 million for more than 230 environmental projects in 2019-20.

Through assistance from Environmental Trust Fund, UNB was one of the first Atlantic institutions to implement a Climate Change Action Plan. The UNB Sustainability committee undertook a 5-year project to reduce our carbon emissions and to prepare and adapt to future climate related events.

Dr. George MacLean, Vice President Academic at UNB states, “Higher education has a responsibility to demonstrate leadership by making an institutional commitment to address climate change, not only through innovative research, but also by actively creating adaptation strategies.”

The Environmental Trust Fund is helping people around the province make changes in their lives to address climate change.

“The Environmental Trust Fund grant is fundamental to building a community of practice of post-secondary educators on climate change,” says Dr. Louise Comeau, Research Associate and Director of the Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre at UNB. “It will help to support the development of a variety of initiatives in this area that will have the potential to affect great change.”

“Through our Environmental Trust Fund, many projects are getting financial support to address and mitigate the effects of climate change,” says Honourable Jeff Carr, Minister of Environment and Local Government.

UNB climate change research projects that have benefitted from the Environment Trust Fund support include:

  • Advancing Climate Change Education, Awareness and Capacity Building
  • Facilitation of Climate Change Considerations in Asset Management Planning
  • Spruce Budworm Outbreaks in Relation to Climate Change
  • Economic Damage from Extreme Weather and Climate Events

The Environmental Trust Fund was established by the Environmental Trust Fund Act. Contributions are generated from the Beverage Containers Program.

More information, including the list of approved projects and initiatives, is available at the Department of Environment and Local Government.

Media contacts

  • Hilary Creamer Robinson, University of New Brunswick, 506-458-7996
  • Erika Jutras, Department of Environment and Local Government, 506-444-2447

Photo: Left to right: Dr. George MacLean, UNB Vice-President Academic, Dr. Louise Comeau, Research Associate and Director of the Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre at UNB, Lizzy Gresh, Executive Director, the Gaia Project, Brittany MacLean, City of Fredericton Adaption Plan, Sasha Wood, GNB Climate Change Secretariat, Minister Jeff Carr, Environment and Local Government and Stephen Chase, Councillor, Ward 9. Credit: Mike Erb, GNB.