The CEC to Fund 13 Climate Resilience Projects in North America

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) unveiled the 13 groundbreaking climate-focused projects set to receive up to US$200,000 in funding each by the CEC's EJ4Climate (Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience) Grant Program. These initiatives aim to empower urban communities across North America to tackle extreme climate events.

The projects were selected based on their perceived benefits in aiding underserved and vulnerable communities, including Indigenous groups, across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Violaine Pronovost, Community Grant Programs Lead, CEC, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s recipients, which she described as compelling and inspiring. 

“The projects will advance work on a number of critical issues, from developing community emergency plans and networks to the reappropriation of gardening skills and other traditional practices related to food production,” said Pronovost .

The selection committee meticulously evaluated more than 240 proposals based on criteria such as community involvement, partnerships, implementation planning, and measurable objectives. Building on the success of previous cycles, the 2023-24 grant recipients promise to make significant strides in climate resilience across the Americas.

The organization selected four projects in Mexico, each tailored to address different challenges posed by climate change across the country. One of these initiatives, based in Tabasco, centers on implementing strategies to enhance climate resilience along urban rivers in Villahermosa. Moreover, in Sonora, a local organization aims to fortify coastal communities' resilience against extreme hydrometeorological events in the Upper Gulf of California. 

Another project, situated in Chiapas, leads an innovation network dedicated to adapting to extreme weather events in urban environments. Furthermore, headquartered in Chihuahua, the Clean Juarez program prioritizes community environmental education as a fundamental strategy for environmental justice and climate resilience.