Climate Challenge Fund Projects
The Climate Challenge Fund program has provided support for projects by organizations from across the province, including First Nations, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and academic research institutions. Funded projects are working to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate through education, research and innovation.
Which projects received funding from the Climate Challenge Fund in 2024-25?
Atlantic Food Action Coalition - Around the Table
Description: As the cost-of-living crisis persists and food prices soar, more PEI families struggle to put food on the table. A major food producer, PEI is also one of the most food insecure places in Canada, heavily dependent on food imports and vulnerable to rising costs and supply disruptions fuelled by climate change. This project will create a 25-minute documentary film and discussion guide to examine how the climate crisis is affecting food security on PEI and how local communities are responding and adapting and organize community screenings and discussion sessions to explore how communities can act to address these vulnerabilities.
Dr. Kuljeet Grewal, UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering - A.I. Driven Zoning Solutions
Description: This project aims to revolutionize urban planning in Prince Edward Island (PEI) by leveraging cutting-edge machine learning techniques to create zoning archetypes that reflect recent developments. Through in-depth analyzes of zoning schemes, solar performance, and climate resilience, the project will provide invaluable insights for sustainable urban development. The methodology involves the use of drones, Li-DAR data, and advanced energy modelling tools to develop zoning archetype models. Evaluation of solar performance and resilience under extreme weather events will inform the creation of indices, offering a data-driven decision-making tool for optimal energy efficiency and climate-sensitive urban design.
Wind Energy Institute of Canada - Adapting Renewable Energy to Mitigate Climate Challenge
Description: This project will quantify the renewable energy required to meet PEI’s net-zero energy goals by using WEICan’s renewable energy and storage infrastructure to demonstrate their ability to support an electrical grid that has increasing loads and a decreasing dependence on conventional fossil fuel generation. Furthermore, as we continue to experience the impacts of climate change, extreme weather events such as large storms will become more frequent and more intense. Using WEICan’s renewable energy infrastructure as proof of concept, this project will evaluate the impacts of extreme weather events in PEI on renewable energy generation and grid integration.
Dr. Stephanie Shaw, UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering - Mitigating GHGS & Enhancing Circularity in the PEI Construction Industry
Description: Materials extraction and use account for 70% of global GHG emissions. One of the largest contributors is the construction industry, accounting for 37% of global GHG and 34% of energy demand. While the construction industry represents about 10% of PEI’s annual GDP, the embodied carbon in the materials represents a significant avenue to reduce PEI’s GHG emissions. This project will explore PEI’s construction industry, material usage, waste production, and design practices. This investigation will identify circular material opportunities, quantification of embodied GHG reductions, and establishment of recommendations for reducing PEI’s GHG emissions in this industry.
Inversion Point Technologies Ltd - Atmospheric Methane Mitigation Initiative
Description: Inversion Point Technologies will demonstrate a safe, economically and technically feasible approach to removing methane and pollutants from the air through a process that supplements existing atmospheric processes to break down methane, while removing volatile organics and carbon monoxide. Methane is a GHG that is at least 28x more potent than CO2 and a significant contributor to ground level ozone (which impacts health and agriculture and affects vulnerable communities disproportionately). The project will be conducted in partnership with UPEI and WEICAN, and will improve our understanding of climate change, while demonstrating an innovative solution to reducing GHG emissions and ground level ozone.
Dr. Yulin Hu, UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering - Seawater-Based Mining for High-Purity Lithium Production
Description: Due to the escalating global demand for electric vehicles, mobile devices, and grid storage, the necessity for lithium (Li)-ion batteries is rapidly intensifying, which poses a significant challenge toward conventional ore-based Li production. By leveraging its abundant resource of seawater, there is a great opportunity for PEI to become a crucial player in the Li market. Unlike traditional mining, Li extraction from seawater offers distinct advantages. This project aims to validate the feasibility of using seawater as the exclusive raw material for obtaining high-purity Li by electrochemical approach, and a lab-scale extraction setup will be developed.
Raspberry Point Oyster Co. (2023) Inc. - Adaptation & Mitigation Through Renewables
Description: This project aims to install 220 solar panels onto Raspberry Points processing facility, to generate nearly 40% of clean energy. Solar panels are not only a clean energy, but also a catalyst for positive change. Their widespread adoption contributes significantly to climate change mitigation, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future. Raspberry Point is committed to be Net Zero by 2040.
City Of Charlottetown - Home Flood Protection Rebate Program and Workshops
Description: Funding will support the re-establishment of the City of Charlottetown’s Home Flood Protection Rebate Program and implement a new stream reserved for income qualified residents. There is a need to ensure that programs supporting residents in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change are accessible to PEI’s increasingly diverse population. This project will consult with community groups representing renters/tenants, landlords, and marginalized groups to prepare a report on building more effective and inclusive adaptation and mitigation related programs. A series of free public workshops providing hands-on learning related to climate change will also be provided.
Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc. - Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plan
Description: The goal of this project is to conduct a comprehensive climate risk assessment and adaptation plan for the Charlottetown Airport. The Atlantic region is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise, extreme weather events, temperature fluctuations, and changing precipitation patterns. This study will assess the current and future climate risks to airport infrastructure, operations, and safety, and develop an adaptation strategy to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the Charlottetown Airport can adapt to the challenges posed by a changing climate and continue to provide critical transportation services to Prince Edward Island. Improve Wastewater Management and Treatment Operations by removing Rain and Flood Waters From the Sewer System.
Town of Stratford - Improve Wastewater Management and Treatment Operations by Removing Rain and Flood Waters From the Sewer System
Description: Climate change has caused an increased intensity and frequency of rain and snow events which results in sump pumps operating for longer durations. A program will be launched to incentivize utility customers to disconnect their sump pump from their sanitary sewer service. A customer who registers for the program will receive a rebate to have a licensed plumber redirect the piping to discharge outside and install a battery backup sump pump. This program will remove clean water from the sanitary sewer system thereby reducing energy and providing environmental and economic benefits to the community.
River Clyde Arts – River Clyde Arts Resilient Communities Initiative
Description: We are seeking funding for an expansion of our annual season of programming, which includes new programs woven into our 3 signature events: The River Clyde Pageant, Sharing the Field, and the River Clyde Solstice Walk. With this expansion, we aim to increase ecological literacy, resiliency and wellbeing amid the climate crisis through outdoor, climate-engaged arts programming that is accessible, intergenerational, and integrates the diverse communities that make up our region. Focusing on children, youth and families, with particular efforts to engage newcomers, low-income participants, and people with disabilities, this programming will engage several partners to deliver new activities that promote skill development, environmental stewardship, and community action.
Dr. Xander Wang, Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Prince Edward Island – Development of a Climate Change Educational Resource Package for K-12 Teachers in PEI
Description: This project aims to develop an educational resource package about climate change for K-12 teachers in Prince Edward Island. It will provide the K-12 teachers with accurate and straightforward information about climate change, as well as various kinds of teaching resources (e.g., introductory slides, short and succinct videos, interactive lesson plans, and infographics) so that they can use them to develop teaching materials in their own courses. The resource package will be designed with both official languages (i.e., English and French) and it will be made available to all schools in PEI and the general public through an online platform.
REFUEL Renewable Fuels Inc. – Mobile Hydrogen (plug & play) pod for unlimited temporary green power via fuel cell
Description: This project aims to design, engineer and build a Mobile Hydrogen Plug & Play Pod. A mobile hydrogen storage and delivery solution for temporary green power application, via fuel cell, for hard to de-carbonize sectors like construction; music events and festivals and to supply power in emergency situations.
Scout Environmental Inc. – Your Port in a Storm – improving climate resiliency at home
Description: Every day, we make behavioural and consumer choices that impact our lives and our communities. However, many of us neither understand nor consider how these choices impact our homes and our ability to adapt to a changing climate. This home climate resiliency campaign aims to promote the actions and products that the people of PEI can adopt to protect their homes and property, themselves, and their loved ones from the impacts of climate change. Using digital storytelling, Scout will provide a portal for practical, actionable information on how tenants and homeowners can better prepare for and mitigate climate hazards at the household level.
Canadian Home Builders’ Association (PEI) Inc. – Energy Efficient Sessions for Homeowners
Description: Whether it is renovating or building a new home, most consumers in PEI feel overwhelmed when it comes to upgrading energy efficiency for their homes. In our free sessions, homeowners will be given a Building Science 101 Course instructing on everything from foundations to attic insulation and everything in between. Our free sessions will help consumers understand the “House as a System” approach, how a house performs, how construction and renovation planning can reduce green house gas emissions, help our environment, create more comfortable living spaces and save hundreds of dollars from being wasted in escaping energy.
Which projects previously received funding from the Climate Challenge Fund?
Abegweit First Nation – $100,000 for Best Practices Mission to Explore a Path to Energy Self-Sufficiency for Abegweit First Nation to Support Generation to Come (2023)
Dr. Patrick Augustine, UPEI Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies - $100,000 for Siawa'tmnej L'ney Kjijitaqn Project (2023)
Dr. Nadja Bressan, UPEI Sustainable Design Engineering – $9,100 for Immersive Environment for Climate Change Adaptation (2023)
Farm Centre Association – $50,000 for Therapeutic Horticulture: An Innovative Solution to the Threat of Climate Change (2023)
Green Learning Canada Foundation – $32,901 for Engaging PEI Youth in Local Climate Change Actions (2023)
Gulf Shore Community Health Cooperative – $100,000 for Children and Youth Powered Community and Environmental Resilience (2023)
Dr. Yulin Hu, UPEI Sustainable Design Engineering – $70,000 for Solar Energy-Driven Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting (2023)
Kensington North Watershed Association Ltd. – $74,452 for Addressing Coastal Erosion in Kensington North using Nature-Based Climate Change Adaptation-Living Shoreline Demonstration (2023)
Maritime Electric Company, Limited – $39,000 for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Electrical Grid (2023)
Native Council of Prince Edward Island – $92,250 for Climate Hazards: Preparing for our Future (2023)
PEI Coalition for Women in Government – $96,740 for Empowering Women Advocates for Climate Resiliency (2023)
PEI Cultural Human Resources Sector Council Inc. (Creative PEI) – $99,369 for Climate Artist-in-Residence program (2023)
PEI Sheep Breeders Association – $99,990 for Parasite Resilient Sheep (2023)
Prince Edward Island Potato Board – $51,640 for Measuring Impacts of Seed Sensing Technology on Meeting PEI’s NET Zero Goals and Agronomic Performance in PEI Potato Production (2023)
Dr. Stephanie Shaw, UPEI Sustainable Design Engineering – $25,704 for Holistic Exploration of the Sustainable use of Biomass as an Alternative Fossil Fuel of Prince Edward Island (2023)
STEAM PEI – $47,081for PEI Sustainable Energy Education for Grade 6 Youth and Teachers (2023)
Upcycle Green Tech – $100,000 for Electric Converted and Re-manufactured Vehicles (2023)
UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation, Dr. Aitazaz Farooque - $99,795 for Monitoring and Modelling Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Face of Climate Change for Sustainable Crop Production in Prince Edward Island (2023)
Canadian Home Builders’ Association (PEI) Inc. - $100,000 for Energy Efficient Boot Camp for Consumers. (2022)
Clean Foundation - $98,492 for Island Climate Action – Advancing Municipalities’ Solutions on Climate Change. (2022)
Dalhousie University (Agricultural College, Truro) - $100,000 for Assessment of inclusion of Kelp (shore weed) as a feed supplement in dairy and beef cattle diet to mitigate methane and increase the resilience of livestock industries. (2022)
Net Zero Atlantic (NZA) - $98,696 for Supporting PEI’s transition to net-zero emissions through energy system modelling. (2022)
PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative (PEI COPC) - $100,000 for Farming Carbon: Accessing carbon credits through bio-char to finance soil-first organic farming. (2022)
Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council (PEIISC) - $66,797 for Mitigating Ecosystem Impacts of Climate Change by Monitoring and Managing Invasive Species. (2022)
Scout Environmental - $99,000 for Reducing our Risks – a digital climate change journey for Islanders. (2022)
Sentry: Water Monitoring and Control Inc. - $100,000 for Wastewater Optimization to Reduce Energy and Provide Environmental and Economic Benefits to the Community. (2022)
Town of Three Rivers - $100,000 for Reception Centres for Three Rivers. (2022)
UPEI, Centre for Health and Community Research - $100,000 for Engaging Islanders in mapping climate-related social and health factors to build resilience to climate change on PEI. (2022)
UPEI, Sustainable Design Engineering - $99,500 for Sustainable Agriculture Practices to Improve Crop Productivity and Mitigate Climate Change – Phase-II. (2022)
UPEI, Sustainable Design Engineering - $97,300 for Life Cycle Assessment and Asset Integrity Management of Wind Turbines. (2022)
Waterlution - $100,000 for Water Innovation Lab Atlantic 2022 (WIL Atlantic). (2022)
Wind Energy Institute of Canada - $99,990 for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Improved Climate and Renewable Energy Data and Sharing. (2022)
Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association - $19,800 for Summerside Rainwater Harvesting Campaign. (2021)
Island Nature Trust in partnership with the Sustainable Forest Alliance - $100,000 for restoring and measuring resilience of carbon rich Island lands through nature-based strategies. (2021)
Lennox Island First Nation - $80,190 for Netukulimk Education Program (Learning to take only what we need). (2021)
Maritime Electric Company - $56,845 for climate risk assessment and adaptation plan for transmission and distribution assets. (2021)
North Shore Fisherman’s Association - $75,150 for climate change impacts to sediment transport at select small craft harbours. (2021)
PEI Federation of Agriculture in partnership with the City of Charlottetown - $47,700 for Charlottetown Food Recovery Network. (2021)
PEI Watershed Alliance in partnership with the Glenaladale Heritage Trust Foundation - $100,000 for supporting climate-resilient ecosystems in PEI. (2021)
RE-FUEL Renewable Fuels Inc. in partnership with Aspin Kemp & Associates - $100,000 for green hydrogen: power to gas with C02 direct air capture. (2021)
Saint Mary’s University - $100,000 for PEI shoreline assessment and ecosystem services tool for nature-based climate change adaptation. (2021)
Smart Grocery Store Inc. - $100,000 for Monsieur Vrac plastic reduction. (2021)
Southern Kings and Queens Fisherman’s Association - $55,319 for climate change risk assessment of PEI lobster fishery. (2021)
The River Clyde Pageant - $91,350 for River Clyde Pageant sustainable community initiatives 2021 and 2022. (2021)
Town of Stratford - $32,550 for an inventory of Stratford’s urban forest, assessments of natural areas and the creation of a management plan for Stratford’s natural areas.(2021)
Wheatley River Improvement Group Inc. - $65,855 to increase the resiliency of Wheatley River brook trout by mitigating current inputs of sediment to the river, stabilizing the riverbank, restoring deep-water refuges and improving the canopy cover along the river. (2021)
BIPOC USHR – $100,000 to actively address inequities and discrimination that are generated or augmented by climate change and work to ensure discrimination is considered when addressing climate change. (2020)
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) – $99,400 to explore sustainable agriculture practices to improve crop productivity and mitigate climate change. (2020)
The City of Charlottetown - $87,150 to support resilient homes, parks and people to adapt to increasing flooding and storm surges. (2020)
All EV PEI – $99,382 to provide an education, outreach, and experiential program province-wide to residents and businesses on the climate and ownership benefits of electric vehicles. (2020)
Indigenous Art of North America - $15,000 to create a carbon accounting platform for small businesses to provide product and service carbon weight data that can be shared publicly. The assumption is that, by being transparent in reporting; Indigenous Art of North America can create a competitive advantage by improving consumer knowledge of climate change. (2020)
The PEI Aquaculture Alliance - $19,652 to measure the carbon offsets of Prince Edward Island Mussel and Oyster Aquaculture. (2020)
The Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group - $16,047 to create of a multi- tier living shoreline demo site. Living shorelines are a soft engineering approach used to stabilize shorelines and slow down the effects of erosion by creating a shoreline that can better withstand wave energy and storms. (2020)
P.E.I Grass Fed Farms - $58,000 to further develop a hydroponic fodder system that produces reliable food source year-round for cattle while also decreasing impacts during drought and winter seasons; protecting land from being cleared; and reducing emissions relating to traditional processes which involve tilling, seeding, chopping and bailing. (2020)
Upcycle Green Technology - $100,000 to support its Electric Converted Remanufactured Vehicle (ECRV) project. The project intends to reduce CO2 emission by replacing the combustion engine drive-train of a used vehicle with an all-electric one. (2020)
The Town of Stratford - $28,700 to support a town-wide street tree planting program. It will bring much-needed trees to Stratford’s communities and would contribute to residents’ understanding and appreciation for the urban forest. (2020)
Where can I find more information about the Climate Challenge Fund?
Visit Apply to the Climate Challenge Fund for more information about application requirements and to apply to the fund.