Canada Environmental Science Opportunity (CESO)

Eligibility

Canadian post-secondary academic institutions are eligible to apply. 

Summary

Overview

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is launching a new call for applications for a funding opportunity to engage experts in environmental science and advance projects that address critical environmental issues, such as climate change and nature.

Applicants can apply to the following streams for projects that will start in the fiscal year April 2026 – March 2027:

• Stream 1: Research, modelling & risk assessment​
  • Theme 1A: Research related to Canada’s changing climate
    • Up to $150,000 per year, per project for a maximum of four years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, and Canadian regional climate consortia.
    • Projects funded under this theme will address key knowledge gaps in climate science, where evidence remains limited or uncertain.
  • Theme 1B: Quantifying the impact of cryosphere loss on freshwater
    • Up to $200,000 per year, per project for a maximum of five years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions.
    • Funded projects will expand knowledge of processes and feedbacks, modernize monitoring systems, and apply advanced numerical modelling to understand cryosphere responses and implications for aquatic ecosystems and society.
  • Theme 1C: Studying changing air quality conditions with climate change 
    • Up to $100,000 per year, per project for a maximum of four years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, Canadian non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous governments, boards, commissions, associations, authorities. 
    • Funded projects will examine the interdependency of air quality and climate change to quantify ecosystem and human health impacts. They will use these findings to inform emissions risk management strategies.
  • Theme 1D: Building confidence in the use of new approach methods in ecological risk assessment
    • Up to $250,000 per year, per project for a maximum of four years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions.
    • Research is needed to develop, standardize and establish scientific relevance and confidence to demonstrate the suitability of new approach methods (NAMs) in keeping with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) weight of evidence guiding principles and key elements. This is to support fit-for-purpose uses of NAMs across regulatory contexts.
  • Theme 1E: Advancing the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operational hydro-meteorological and environmental services
    • Maximum of $200,000 per project for one, two or three years, with funding for multi-year projects allocated in equal amounts each year.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions actively engaged in research related to the atmosphere, environment, water, air quality, information technology, or data science.
    • Projects will advance expertise in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for operational hydro-meteorological and environmental services in Canada.
       
• Stream 2: Nature research
  • Theme 2A: Nature-based climate solutions
    • Up to $100,000 per year, per project for a maximum of three years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, Canadian non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, associations, authorities.
    • Projects will enable the reductions of Canada’s net GHG emissions using natural climate solutions, while benefitting biodiversity and human wellbeing. Projects will address science and knowledge gaps to be better able to effectively design and implement nature-based initiatives to avoid or reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change impacts while benefitting biodiversity.
  • Theme 2B: Species at risk
    • Up to $100,000 per year, per project for a maximum of three years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, Canadian not-for-profit organizations, and Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, associations, authorities.
    • Projects will enable species‑at‑risk–focused scientific research on migratory birds, other migratory species, and species that span multiple Canadian jurisdictions.
  • Theme 2C: Building the science to support the protection of coastal ecosystems
    • Up to $100,000 per year, per project for a maximum of three years.
    • Eligibility - Canadian post-secondary academic institutions, Canadian non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, associations, authorities.
    • Projects will advance research on the stressors impacting marine birds and other wildlife in arctic ecosystems, and community-based scientific training and capacity-building programs that foster marine wildlife and ecosystem science expertise in coastal communities in Canada. This science will contribute to ensuring healthy, resilient, and productive coastal ecosystems.
       
• Stream 3: Research & analysis to support Canada’s path to net zero
  • All projects must be completed within 5 years of a signed funding agreement. 
  • Applicants must request a minimum of $500,000 and up to a maximum of $2,000,000.
  • Eligible applicants must be not-for-profit organizations, and must fall under one of the following categories: Non-governmental organizations (e.g., think tanks and research-based institutions, including registered charities, Indigenous research organizations, environmental community groups, etc.); Universities and academic institutions (e.g., community colleges, Indigenous institutes, CÉGEP)
  • The objective of this funding is to catalyze climate research and analysis by Canadian think tanks, academic institutions, and other research groups by addressing sectoral knowledge gaps and crosscutting net-zero themes in the areas of climate change, air quality and emissions. The ultimate objective of these projects is to identify, accelerate, and evaluate mitigation actions that can help Canada achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The Government of Canada is investing $15.48 million from the EDF’s CAAF.
  • To be eligible for funding, your project must align with one of the following themes:
    • Theme 3A: Identifying future considerations of GHGs and air pollutants in achieving net zero
    • Theme 3B: Examining impacts of technologies and obstacles on pathways to reach net zero
    • Theme 3C: Enhancing emissions data to evaluate net zero progress

Research Security - All Streams and Themes
Please note that ECCC is aligned with the Government of Canada's Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Applicants will be required to indicate whether or not their proposed project will aim to support the generation or discovery of knowledge that contributes to progress in the development of a technology described in the subcategories of the list of Sensitive Technology Research Areas. Applicants will also be required to attest that they are not a member of, or affiliated with, any organization on the list of Named Research Organizations. 
 

Application Process

1) Submission to Research Services: 
A complete Pre-Award/Application record, that includes the final application package and which has been approved by the applicant's Department Head and ADR, must be received in Research Services by noon on Thursday July 2, 2026. 

Please wait until your application is approved in RMS before completing your submission to ECCC.

2) Final Submission to ECCC:
Once your RMS record has been approved by Research Services, log into Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS) and complete the submission to ECCC by 1:00pm MT on Tuesday July 7, 2026.

Visit the GCEMS application instructions page for technical assistance documents, tutorials, and support throughout your application preparation.

Once you have submitted your application through GCEMS, the portal automatically generates an acknowledgment of receipt. If you do not receive an acknowledgment, it is important that you email sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca to confirm that your application has been received.

Following the project review phase, a decision will be communicated to you by email.

Overhead

20% of eligible costs

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

The Applicant Guide for Streams 1 and 2, and the Applicant Guide for Stream 3, are available in the GCEMS portal. If you would like to have a copy emailed to you, please reach out to Tempest Emery in the Research Services Office. 

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application