The Province is partnering with St. Francis Xavier University to help Nova Scotia cut methane emissions from its largest landfills.
Researchers from the Antigonish university will measure emissions at landfills across the province and identify opportunities to capture methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, before it enters the atmosphere.
They will also examine innovative methane recovery systems already in use elsewhere in Canada and globally to determine whether they can be used here in Nova Scotia.
"Our universities are centres of innovation, and we need to work with our best and brightest to find creative solutions," said Michelle Thompson, Minster of Health and Wellness and MLA for Antigonish, on behalf of Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. "Our government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a vital part of the global effort to slow climate change."
The project's results will help municipalities determine how to reduce landfill emissions, generate renewable energy from captured methane, and support a cleaner, more sustainable future for Nova Scotia.
The university is receiving $242,060 for this project from the Province through the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, a grant program that helps Nova Scotians adapt to climate change and/or mitigate its impacts.
Quotes:
"Nova Scotia has long been a leader in waste management, and this project is an opportunity to build on that leadership. Our goal is to provide municipalities with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions that benefit the climate, nearby communities and the province's clean-energy future."
David Risk, Brian Mulroney Institute of Government Research Chair in Climate Science And Policy, St. Francis Xavier University
"Addressing climate change requires innovative approaches, strong partnerships and the right information to guide action. St. Francis Xavier University's methane recovery feasibility study explores opportunities to reduce emissions from Nova Scotia's landfills by building a clearer understanding of current conditions, best practices and pathways for future implementation. This project reflects the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund's role in supporting communities with the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed to develop practical climate solutions."
Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
Quick Facts:
- Nova Scotia's legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets are to be at least 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero by 2050
- the Department's newly released annual progress report on greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets shows the Province is on track to meet them all
- the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund was created in 2021 as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, a legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change including drought conditions, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes and buildings energy efficient, and more
- eligible funding recipients are municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions and Mi'kmaw communities
- since launching, the fund has announced about $15.6 million for projects that help Nova Scotians respond to climate change
Additional Resources:
- More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at: https://nschallengefund.ca/
- News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228
- Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
- Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
- Annual progress report on the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and Nova Scotia's climate change action plan: https://novascotia.ca/nse/progress-report
