About Us

Working towards a net-zero future, one investment at a time

The Halifax Climate Investment, Innovation and Impact (HCi3) Fund invests in an inclusive low carbon future for Halifax/Kjipuktuk, applying a ‘multi-solving’ approach to all our work. We seek to drive down urban greenhouse gas emissions through investments, grants, partnership and capacity building while promoting social equity, Reconciliation and community benefits, including job creation, affordability, resilience and a healthy environment. HCi3 is one of seven non-profit organizations that, along with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, make up the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) Network established thanks to an endowment from the Government of Canada.

Partnering with Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax/Kjipuktuk is a leader in climate action. Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)’s climate action plan, HalifACT, is an ambitious but achievable plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. HCi3 and HRM are committed to working together to reach this target. HRM plays a key role in HCi3’s advisory group, and we work closely with HRM to support its HalifACT goals, engage in continuous exchange and collaboration, and mutually support each other’s climate change initiatives.

A subsidiary of EfficiencyOne

HCi3 is a subsidiary of EfficiencyOne, a national leader in the design and delivery of resource efficiency programs and services. Learn more about the work that EfficiencyOne is doing to help people transform the way they use energy.

Our purpose and mission

HCi3 invests in a net-zero Halifax for everyone. With our partners, we will accelerate and enable the uptake of measurable, equitable and meaningful climate solutions by financing scalable projects.

Our mission is aligned with UNDRIP Articles 18, 19, and 32, supporting the right of Indigenous peoples to be part of decision-making, be consulted before adopting legislative measures, and determine and develop priorities and strategies for their lands, territories, and resources. We seek investments that benefit everyone, aligning with the ethos of Reconciliation and shared prosperity.

Our background

HCi3 was founded in 2020 as a member of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) Network. LC3 is a partnership between seven urban centres – Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver – and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. It was established thanks to an endowment from the Government of Canada in 2019. LC3 works with local municipalities and community partners to demonstrate, de-risk and scale up local climate solutions that both reduce key emissions sources and create valuable and equitable community benefits. In 2023, HCi3 received another significant endowment contribution from the Province of Nova Scotia as part of its commitments in the Nova Scotia Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth.

Our Commitment to Partnership

HCi3’s commitment to partnership underlies all our work. We collaborate closely with the Province of Nova Scotia in support of its Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth and with Halifax Regional Municipality in support of its HalifACT plan.

We also work with Mi’kmaw communities, non-profit organizations, and the private sector in HRM/Kjipuktuk and across the province, as well as with our LC3 network partners throughout Canada.

Our commitment to a more equitable and just future

At HCi3, we acknowledge the profound disparities in the impacts of climate change, disproportionately burdening historically marginalized and racialized communities. These communities have endured a legacy of discrimination, land dispossession, and environmental racism, facing obstacles that extend beyond ecological challenges. Recognizing the intersectionality of trauma, we understand that these same communities have often been sidelined from decision-making processes and encounter barriers in accessing opportunities emerging from the transition to a net-zero future.

HCi3 is committed to integrating social equity and Reconciliation, rooted in Indigenous perspectives, as foundational principles in all our work. We commit to continually improving our practices and evolving into a trusted, supportive partner. We aspire to build relationships with and learn from Indigenous communities, particularly the Mi’kmaw who have lived in Kjipuktuk for over 10,000 years.

This work is guided by the principles of inclusivity and reciprocity, as outlined in UNDRIP Articles 20 and 29, ensuring the rights of Indigenous peoples to the conservation and protection of the environment. We will also seek to build partnerships with African Nova Scotian communities, who have lived in and enriched Mi’kma’ki for over 400 years, and others who have been historically marginalized, including newcomers, people with disabilities, and those identifying as 2SLGBTQ+.

A net-zero future, in our vision, is one where no group of people is left behind. It is a future where equitable access to information, education, and job opportunities prevails in safe, resilient, and affordable communities. Achieving this vision demands collective, intentional action, and HCi3 is committed to being part of this journey.