The National Lottery Community Fund has today [17 July] launched a new £100 million Climate Action Fund that will enable people and communities to take the lead in tackling the climate emergency.

The new fund, from the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will build a network of people and communities, well-placed to drive change within, between and beyond their community.

The funder has said that types of activities will differ from place to place, but will have one thing in common: the ability to deliver high impact community-led climate action. This includes in areas such as sustainable energy, sustainable transport, consumption, food and protecting and regenerating spaces and habitats.

The new fund is being launched as the level of concern over climate change continues to rise, with 80% of the public saying they are very or fairly concerned about climate change.

Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

“Everyone can play their part in addressing climate change. The impact will be all the greater if we come together within and across communities. This is why, thanks to National Lottery players, we are launching the Climate Action Fund to create grassroots momentum built on learning and sharing within, between and beyond communities – in order to achieve meaningful and sustained climate action.”

All information on the funding criteria of the programme to be announced later and applications to the Climate Action Fund will open in autumn 2019.