Climate Change Leaders Award

Applications for 2026 Award now open!

Introduction

Nova Scotian municipalities, large and small, are addressing Climate Change.  They are responding to extreme weather, building resiliency and implementing projects that reduce emissions, but also save money, improve health and prepare their communities for the future.  

NSFM’s Climate Change Leaders Award recognizes the progress municipalities are making.  The objectives of the award program are to:

• celebrate successes
• encourage continuous action and collaboration
• inspire others.

The Climate Change Leaders Award is presented annually at NSFM’s Fall Conference. The winning municipality(ies) can designate a charitable organization in their community to receive funding from NSFM’s Carbon Surcharge Fund.  

The application deadline is September 30, 2026.

Please see below for objectives and eligibility, evaluation criteria and past winners.

Since 2013, NSFM has given 18 Climate Change Leaders Awards to honour 13 municipalities that have demonstrated exemplary leadership in climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.  After a two-year “pause”, NSFM is relaunching the award.

If you would like to apply for NSFM’s Climate Change Leaders Award, please complete the application form by September 30, 2026. The successful applicant(s) will be announced at NSFM’s fall conference banquet on November 6 in Halifax.

If you have questions about NSFM’s Climate Change Leaders Award, please contact David MacIsaac at (902) 456-0903 or dmacisaac@nsfm.ca

2026 Application Guidelines 

1. Objectives and eligibility  

• The objectives of the award program are to celebrate successes, encourage continuous action towards climate change adaptation and mitigation, and support collaborative efforts and the sharing of information among municipalities.
• Any municipality (or municipalities working collectively) in Nova Scotia working to lessen the impacts of climate change through mitigation or adaptation is eligible to apply.
• Only climate change initiatives that were ongoing or started after March 31, 2023, are eligible for consideration. 

2. Application  

• Please complete the application form by September 30, 2026. 

3. Application and award details  

3.1. Application Information Applicants must indicate:  

• • direct deliverables from the implementation of the project;
  • any economic, social, and/or environmental benefits resulting from the project;
  • the project’s timeframe, indicating how it was planned and implemented; and
  • subsequent climate change adaptation and/or mitigation that resulted from the project’s implementation.  

 3.2. Review Process 

All applications will be reviewed by an awards and grants review committee. 

 3.3. Announcement of Successful Applicant(s)  

The award winner(s) will be announced at NSFM’s fall conference banquet on November 6 in Halifax.  

4. Questions  

• You can direct any questions about this award program to David MacIsaac at (902) 456-0903 or dmacisaac@nsfm.ca

Evaluation Criteria 

The 2026 Climate Change Leaders Award submissions will be rated based on the cumulative score from the categories listed below.  

1. Overall contribution to municipal mitigation or adaptation goals  

• The extent to which the project addresses a need or goal as represented in a municipal policy or plan and contributes to the attainment of that priority.  This criterion considers project rationale or needs, the steps taken to understand and plan a course of action, and the degree to which project results help address this rationale.  

2. Innovation  

• The extent to which the implementation of this project represented a new or novel approach for the municipality(ies). This criterion considers degree of change, risk management, longer term viability, collaboration and partnerships, and scalability.  

3. Results

• Social, economic, and environmental benefits that the project has had through climate change mitigation and/or adaptation. Examples of outcomes can be GHG emission reductions, improved resiliency and co-benefits such as cost-savings, increased safety or improved public health.  It can also include tracking and applying lessons-learned. 

4. Legacy and Next Steps  

• In the effort to support continuous action, please explain how the project will contribute to further work and municipal progress on climate change. 

Past recipients of NSFM’s Climate Change Leaders Award: