In 2019, the Nova Scotia Government passed the Coastal Protection Act – the first of its kind in Canada. For more than a decade, the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) has been working with organizations, coastal community members and the public toward the realization of this vital legislation. It will take effect once the accompanying regulations are developed and approved.
On Feb. 26, 2024, the provincial government shelved the act in favour of The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: The Plan to Protect People, Homes and Nature from Climate Change Along Our Coast. This is a complete failure of leadership and is another attempt to pass responsibility on to municipalities and individual citizens. The Coastal Protection Act regulations would have been the first step in helping to make our coastal ecosystems more resilient so they can adapt and protect us.
The Coastal Protection Act would:  
- Provide protection for our vital coastal ecosystems 
- Eliminate inappropriate coastal development 
- Preserve the dynamic and resilient nature of our coasts to better withstand climate change