Rural communities across Australia are stepping up with innovative climate solutions, after the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) awarded more than $650,000 to 24 community-led projects.
Announced on 29 September, the Community Led Climate Solutions (CLCS) program will back not-for-profit groups in remote, rural and regional areas to tackle local climate impacts and navigate the transition away from fossil fuels. More than half of the initiatives funded will benefit First Nations communities.
The $652,740 in grants range from $19,186 for a native plant nursery in Moora, Western Australia, to $75,000 for an Indigenous STEM education program to be delivered in multiple remote communities nationwide.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said rural communities want to take charge of climate action while also having a say in transition planning and investment. “The projects we’re funding present a range of climate solutions that showcase future-focused community-led responses,” she said.
“A strong theme is the engagement of young people, as well as sharing contextualised and culturally responsive knowledge and skills with the wider community.”
Two of the 24 funded projects are First Nations-led, while 11 involve partnerships with Traditional Owner groups. Ms Egleton added:
“We’re particularly pleased to see this strong engagement, as these projects will benefit many remote and very remote communities.”
Under the Engage and Deliver stream, nearly $400,000 will be shared among 20 organisations in grants of up to $20,000. A further four groups will share almost $255,000 through the Scaling stream, which supports larger projects that expand existing local initiatives and help communities lead climate adaptation and mitigation.
The CLCS program is supported by partners including Hand Heart Pocket – The Charity of Freemasons Queensland, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Elders Insurance (backed by the QBE Foundation), and the PNI Foundation.
Now in its 25th year, FRRR has delivered more than $200 million to over 15,000 projects, reinforcing its role in strengthening the social and economic fabric of Australia’s rural, regional and remote communities.
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