The ACT Government has launched what it says is a new grants program for local climate leadership — but environmental advocates argue the announcement merely replaces an existing program and is not new investment.

The Communities Climate Action Grants Program commits $300,000 over two years to support community-led climate initiatives.

Local organisations will be able to apply for grants of up to $30,000 for projects that aim to reduce emissions and help communities adapt to climate impacts. These might include workshops on sustainable travel or energy-saving; repair and composting demonstrations; education on switching from gas to electric appliances; installing shade in shared spaces; improving air filtration; or developing local emergency response plans.

Eligible applicants include schools; social, sporting and recreational groups; arts organisations; and cultural groups.

Suzanne Orr MLA, Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, said the program recognises that community organisations play a critical role in driving meaningful climate action.

“Canberrans are already leading the way on climate action, and the new grants will help bring their ideas, energy and local knowledge to life,” Ms Orr said.

The government says the new scheme builds on the now-concluded Community Zero Emissions Grants, which focused solely on reducing emissions, and expands the scope.

“This new program builds on what worked well,” Ms Orr said. “It allows us to fund more projects, reach more communities, and support actions that deliver both emissions reductions and climate resilience, including adaptation initiatives to make Canberra climate-ready.”

But the Conservation Council ACT Region said the program effectively rebranded the former scheme.

“The ACT Government has not announced new funding, but has instead repackaged and re-announced a successful grants program that has been running for many years,” executive director Dr Simon Copland said.

“In doing so they have allocated no new money. In fact, they have reduced the potential size of the grants available to individual organisations from $50,000 to $30,000, making it more difficult for community groups to fund large, meaningful projects. 

“While we welcome the continuation of grant funding, at a time when Canberra has just sweltered through a massive heat wave, bushfires are raging through Victoria, and when the ACT is not meeting our emissions reductions targets, doing more of the same is simply not enough.

“We call on the ACT Government to spend less time re-announcing re-packaged funding programs and instead get on with developing new policies to tackle the climate crisis here in the ACT.”

Applications for the first round of the Communities Climate Action Grants close on Sunday 15 March. For more information, including eligibility and applications, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.