Poll results have consistently revealed that the majority of Canadians (82%) are aware of environmental issues. One of the main reasons for this awareness is due to the work of the environmental community and their public education campaigns over the last few decades.

However, systematic funding cutbacks to environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) have seriously affected ENGOs' capacity for strategic planning and maintaining long-term effective communication programs. Small- to medium-sized ENGOS have been particularly hard hit during this time of funding restrictions and increasing competition for fewer resources. ENGOs are struggling to sustain their education and public information campaigns and to provide long-term advocacy on any one issue. This is undermining their credibility and ability to keep key issues high on the public agenda. In addition, their research capacity, which has been historically underdeveloped and underfunded, has encountered increasing setbacks over the last few years.

Other sources of funding are failing to fill the gap. The NET is responding with a unique program to restore and maintain ENGO capacity. Click here to see how!