Australian communities regularly experience extreme weather events, including devastating droughts, bushfires, floods, and other disasters. Many individuals, organisations, and businesses are looking for ways to take action to address climate change. Environmental grants are available to support these objectives.
The Grants Hub aims to make finding these grants easy and accessible for our community - because we all have a part to play in protecting and preserving our planet for future generations.
Climate Change Research
This report report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents a stark assessment of the risks climate change will inflict on the world:
The projected global warming under current global emissions reduction policies would leave many of the region's human and natural systems at very high risk and beyond adaptation limits.
The risks currently projected for the Australiasian region are severe, including:
Our coral reefs, marine life, snow regions, forests, and all of the animals who dwell within them, as well as the habitation and activities we humans enjoy there, will come to an end
Our agriculture sector will be affected, there will be increasing supply chain disruptions, and our ability to inhabit coastal as well as metropolitan areas will decline
Our collective health will also deteriorate, with vulnerable communities experiencing higher mortality rates as a direct result of climate change
Our economy will suffer the effects of forced migration, infrastructure and engineering expenses, rising insurance premiums, and health costs related to pollution.
The window of opportunity to effectively respond to these impacts is rapidly closing - we cannot delay in taking positive action.
What are the objectives of environmental grants?
Whether working in a large business or organisation, or as an individual volunteering with your local school or community, you can make a difference to our environment.
Grants available will help you undertake initiatives including:
Preparing for and mitigating the effects of extreme weather events on communities and on the environment (e.g. bushfire, flood, tsunami, drought, etc)
Building community knowledge, education and skills
Delivering sustainability initiatives (e.g. recycling programs, tree planting, composting, community gardening, school programs, etc)
Conserving and preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems
Protecting Traditional Owners and promoting cultural awareness
Conducting scientific and social research
Promoting animal welfare (e.g. for the prevention of disease, promoting health and wellbeing, providing shelter, humane treatment, etc.)
Protecting threatened species
Reducing pollution and waste
Advocacy related to climate change
Where can we find environmental grants?
Environment specific funding is available from a broad range of sources, including government, philanthropy, and other funding providers. The value and number of funding opportunities varies, but is increasing.
ClimateWorks Foundation’s research in 2021 found that “although climate change mitigation philanthropy has experienced meaningful growth over 2020, it still remained below 2% of total philanthropic giving worldwide.” (Source: Funding trends 2021: Climate change mitigation philanthropy).
In an analysis of The Grants Hub’s grants directory, we found that 17% of grant rounds we listed that had 2021 deadlines had an environmental focus, including animal welfare grants and other types of grants.
One observation we have is that whereas traditionally funding providers often treated environmental objectives as completely separate from community or social objectives, today that’s changing and there are many more grants available that appreciate the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues.
That means that no matter who or what your aims are, you may be eligible for environmental grants that can help you take climate action - while delivering your core mission.
Right now, there are more than 190 environment grants listed at The Grants Hub.
Here are just a few examples you might be interested in:
The Country Road Climate Fund
The Country Road Climate Fund is a climate impact grants program aimed at accelerating and incubating positive climate projects, programs, initiatives, products or organisations across the Australian fashion industry.
Applications close 1 December 2022.
Australian Small Grants Program
Provides small grants for grassroots climate change initiatives. The Sunrise Project raises funds from people and organisations who share their mission to drive the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to reduce greenhouse pollution and create a healthy and prosperous future for everyone.
Always open.
Environmental Grants
Supports environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change.
Round 4 applications close 01 December 2022.
Sprout Grants
Supports projects and organisations that build communities inspired to take action for a sustainable future.
Always open.
Google.org Impact Challenge on Climate Innovation
Funds big bet projects that accelerate technological advances in climate information and action.
Wild Country Environmental Fund
Provides funding to support the protection of the wild places, flora and fauna of Australia.
Always open.