Accelerating to Zero Grant Program
About the Program
HCi3’s Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) grant program supports innovative projects that help Halifax/Kjipuktuk reach its goal of becoming net zero by 2050 through a just and equitable low-carbon transition.
Projects either directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enable the conditions for equitable and meaningful climate solutions with significant potential impact.
Projects are funded up to $50,000 and 24 months in duration.
The grant program is now closed for 2023.
Previous Grant Recipients
For a general overview of the previous years’ grant profiles, visit the links below.
Over the next few months, we will be releasing in-depth profiles on each of our grant recipients and their projects. You can view these profiles here.
Program Objectives
In 2023, the A2Z program focused on four key objectives:
- CLIMATE IMPACT: Projects have long term carbon reduction potential and are scalable and replicable.
- COMMUNITY: Communities benefit beyond GHG reduction, e.g., through building partnerships, job creation, resilience, capacity building, and/or affordability.
- EQUITY: Groups and populations that have been traditionally excluded and systematically disadvantaged in climate solutions are empowered to participate in solutions that affect them.
- RECONCILIATION: Projects contribute to a reconciliation economy where wealth and resources are equitably shared and sustainably stewarded for this generation and those yet to come, in relationship with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
2023 Challenge Questions
Applicants in 2023 were invited to address the following challenge questions. These questions may change in future grant rounds.
- How can we accelerate deep energy retrofitsin commercial, institutional and/or residential buildings?
- How can we increase uptake of clean transportation, especially in underserved communities, including electric transportation, active transportation, micro-mobility and/or shared mobility?
- How can we accelerate community-led renewable energy, including preparing for community shared solar energy?
- How can we find integrated ways to reduce energy demandand increase resiliency in buildings, including through energy storage, vehicle-to-grid charging, and solar energy?
- How can we support community-led climate action? This could include engagement, education, demonstration projects, participatory builds, or other measures that will help drive support, knowledge, and capacity for equitable climate action, as well as direct carbon reduction initiatives.
- How can we center equity and reconciliation in climate action to ensure that the transition to net zero benefits everyone?
- What other critical barriers or gaps to climate action are not currently being addressed or funded through other government or non-profit programs?
HCi3 gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the McConnell Foundation, whose funding makes this program possible.
