The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $39,786 in grants for projects in the Gympie region to help communities decarbonise, adapt to a changing climate, and mitigate the risks of global warming.
Community Action Inc on behalf of Gympie and District Sustainability Alliance were awarded a grant of $20,000 to support clean energy transition for social housing and community organisation tenants to enable cost efficiency and promote solar and battery systems to other providers.
Another group, reportedly based in Gympie, were given $19,786 to install Water Wise Gardens and revolutionise school landscapes with low water solutions.
The grants were part of a larger donation of $278,693 given to 16 projects nationwide.
Sarah Matthee, FRRR’s General Manager – Partnerships & Services, said that the applications reflected the diversity of community organisations in Australia, the variety of climate solutions underway across rural communities, and the breadth of opportunities available to enable local groups to take action.
“The requests we received reinforce the fact that these communities are being impacted socially, economically and environmentally by increasing temperatures and extreme weather events,” Ms Matthee said.
These communities are aware and concerned about the impacts of a changing climate, and these projects demonstrate their ambition to engage locals in conversations about their region’s future, and lead their community in taking action to reduce emissions.
“People living in remote, rural and regional communities have the knowledge and ideas to implement solutions that can help to decarbonise, mitigate climate risks, and adapt in a changed climate environment.
“But they need a hand to take action.”
A full list of grant recipients is available at frrr.org.au/blog/2024/03/06/clcs-r1-recipients/#clcs-r1.
