Provincial release:
A critical piece of coastal infrastructure that supports Nova Scotia’s fishery, marine and tourism sectors will be safeguarded from climate change with $600,000 in provincial funding.
Jill Balser, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and MLA for Digby-Annapolis, announced funding for the Digby Harbour Port Association today, January 30, on behalf of Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
“The Port of Digby is a critical part of the local and provincial economy and, like many coastal assets, it must take action to be resilient to climate change,” said Minister Balser. “This funding is an investment in the future prosperity and resilience of Digby-Annapolis’s coastal economy.”
The Digby Harbour Port Association will use the funding to plan upgrades needed to protect the harbour from climate change. This includes an engineering study on how erosion, the rising sea level and stronger storms are affecting the wharves, seawalls and shoreline. The study will then inform the action needed to protect the facility from climate change impacts, including costed design work.
The planning work will also look at how nature‑based solutions, such as natural grasses, shrubs and trees, can protect the harbour and the port. Nature-based solutions are one of the most effective ways to protect the coastline and adjacent infrastructure from waves, flooding and erosion.
The Port of Digby is a commercial port that supports a fishery sector valued at more than $100 million and about 600 direct and indirect jobs.
The investment is from the government’s Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund.
“The funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change is critical to the Port of Digby as we address sea level rise and the infrastructure required to support the region’s essential fishery. The Port of Digby is a major infrastructure asset in a fishery that lands more than $100 million in seafood annually. The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, combined with support from other contributors, will help bring the Port of Digby project to a shovel‑ready state for future remediation.”
— Edwin Chisholm, CEO, Digby Harbour Port Association
“Nova Scotia’s coastal communities face growing climate challenges, and the Digby Harbour Port Association is leading the way in responding to them. Funded through the adaptation stream, this project demonstrates that it is possible to strengthen coastal infrastructure while integrating nature-based solutions that minimize ecological impacts. We look forward to sharing more funding announcements that help coastal communities become more resilient and better prepared for the future.”
— Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
Quick Facts:
– the government created the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund in 2021 as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, its legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes and buildings energy efficient, and more
– the program provides grants to municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions and Mi’kmaw communities to help them respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
– the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities was selected through a request for proposals process to develop and administer the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund on behalf of the government- the third round of the fund opened on February 24, 2025, and closed on April 22, 2025, with coastal protection projects given priority
– the government released The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: The plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change, on February 26, 2024; it has 15 actions for property owners, municipalities and the Province to take to make coastal homes, communities and natural areas safer
Additional Resources:
More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at: https://nschallengefund.ca/
News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: A plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change: https://novascotia.ca/coastal-climate-change/docs/coastline-plan.pdf
Powering the Transition: Nova Scotia 2025 Climate Change Risk Assessment: climate-change-risk–assessment-2025.pdf
