OTTAWA, Canada – Andy Fillmore, parliamentary secretary to the minister of infrastructure and communities and member of parliament for Halifax, on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change, announced that the government of Canada will invest $6 million in the Discovery Centre’s Inspiring Youth to Climate Action project.
“Young Canadians are at the heart of our approach to creating a healthier future and building a cleaner economy. With the tools acquired through this important project, young Canadians will continue to be leaders in the fight against climate change in their communities across the country,” Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change.
This Halifax-based science centre will partner with 30 science centres across the country to engage approximately 200,000 youth in every province and territory as they participate in innovative activities that will inspire them to take real action to fight climate change.
“Canadians want clean air and clean water for their children and grandchildren. When companies pollute our natural environment, they pay the price and the government of Canada ensures that environmental good follows environmental harm by investing those fines in projects that benefit the environment,” said a news release from environment and climate change Canada.
The government of Canada’s environmental damages fund is the source of funding for this project under its Climate Action and Awareness Fund, which was created from the historic $196.5 million fine paid by Volkswagen for circumventing Canada’s environmental protection rules—the largest environmental fine in Canadian history.
For more than 35 years, the Discovery Centre has been offering unique interactive exhibits and experiments to spark interest in science and technology. Youth will participate in hands-on activities grounded in local climate research to foster a connection with their natural environment. This will give them the knowledge and skills to take climate action now and into the future.
“By instiling an understanding of current and credible climate change science, the Inspiring Youth to Climate Action project will successfully drive the kinds of behavioural change and innovation necessary to achieve our net-zero target over the next 30 years,” Dov Bercovici, president and chief executive officer, Discovery Centre Halifax.
