The NSW Government is offering $600,000 to communities across the state to reduce the effects of climate change.

Communities are invited to apply for grants of between $10,000 and $30,000 for individual projects to better cope with climate events such as heatwaves, bushfires or floods.

The grants will help local communities plan, co-ordinate and take action to increase their resilience and adapt, Environment Minister Matt Kean says.

The Increasing Resilience to Climate Change (IRCC) grants program will provide $600,000 in the first round.

Previous initiatives allowed Bega Valley Shire Council to upgrade community halls to be more resilient during extreme heat, and provided a “cool suburbs” rating tool in western Sydney.

Community groups can partner with local councils in their applications.

Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) President Richard Enthoven said earlier this month that robust industry data on the impact of weather losses “is aligning with climate science” and climate change “may make certain regions more exposed to storm, flood or bushfire”.

ICA supports the findings of the Productivity Commission which recommended the Federal Government invest at least $200 million a year, matched by state and territory governments, on infrastructure to make communities more resilient.