Our goal is to fund positive, measurable, and sustainable projects that protect our environment!

Article by DG Peter Garnett, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator

It is very exciting to have Rotary’s seventh Area of Focus available for global grant projects effective from 1 July 2021.

Rotary's Environment area of focus supports activities that conserve and protect natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between people and the environment.

Our goal is to fund positive, measurable, and sustainable projects that protect our environment!

Find more information here: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/protecting-environment

A successful global grant project requires a comprehensive and holistic approach to resolving specific issues that have a harmful effect on the environment.

If you are planning on a developing an Environmental global grant project, please refer to the Areas of Focus policy statements for guidance.

You can download the updated Areas of Focus policy statements here: https://my.rotary.org/document/rotarys-areas-focus

(The environment policy is at pages 18 to 21)

To be eligible for global grant funding within the protecting the environment area of focus, projects must seek to achieve a positive, measurable, and sustainable impact on the environment by taking action in these ways:

· Protecting and restoring land, coastal, marine, and freshwater resource

· Enhancing the capacity of communities to support natural resource management and conservation

· Supporting sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture practices

· Addressing the cause of climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases

· Strengthening ecosystems and communities affected by climate change

· Supporting education initiatives that promote behavior that protects the environment

· Advocating for sustainable consumption to build an economy that uses resources more efficiently

· Addressing environmental justice issues and public health concerns

Note: The policy guidelines also provide guidance on activities which would be outside the scope of the area of focus and not eligible for global grant funding.