Since 1992, Alberta Ecotrust has invested more than $750,000 in 139 projects that have helped to protect Alberta's air and reduce our impact on the earth's climate.

Climate change has materialized as the most significant social and environmental issue on the planet. "Climate change is the BIG one," said one of the participants in our 2004 needs assessment. "Meeting the long-term commitment to stabilize greenhouse gases will require a wholesale shift in societal thinking."

Although this kind of thinking wasn't commonplace when Alberta Ecotrust began distributing grants 15 years ago, many of the education and recycling projects we funded in those early years already were working towards such a shift. More recently, as the serious consequences of climate change have become better understood and more widely accepted, Alberta Ecotrust has redoubled its commitment to supporting projects that help Albertans reduce their impact on a warming climate.

"Meeting the long-term commitment to stabilize greenhouse gases will require a wholesale shift in societal thinking." Alberta Ecotrust will favour those projects and policy initiatives that address clean air, which often have a co-benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, introducing a city-wide initiative to promote walking, biking and busing rather than driving helps to reduce particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (smog precursors) and will also reduce greenhouse gases.

Other examples of project addressing the protection of the atmosphere include:

• Demonstration projects that illustrate the use of renewable energy;

• Public education programs regarding energy efficiency and conservation "walking school bus" initiative whereby parents take turns walking children to school;

• Local initiatives encouraging car pooling and other alternative means of commuting such as the Commuter Challenge;

• Public engagement in urban land use planning initiatives such as Smart Growth.

Visit our project database to learn about current and past projects related to protecting air quality and stopping climate change.