Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
A lot has happened in the past year at ICLEI Canada. In addition to supporting communities through BARC, PCP, and ORCCA programs, our team has grown substantially and we are working on more projects than ever. To name a few major milestones, 2024 saw the launch of the Get Ready to Finance Toolkit (in partnership with Co-operators), the release of The State of Climate Action in Canadian Municipalities report and database (developed by the Net-Zero Action Partnership), and the creation of the online platform Climate Insight (in collaboration with Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada).
This end-of-year update offers a glimpse of projects, resources, and events we have been working on with many more to be announced in the New Year. These projects are all possible thanks to our partners, collaborators, and many committed individuals. As we set our sights on 2025, we look forward to continuing to advance low-carbon, resilient, and equitable communities through our work.
Megan Meaney
Executive Director, ICLEI Canada
Spotlight on Climate Insight
Helping Communities Build Low-Carbon, Resilient Housing and Infrastructure
Climate Insight is a free online platform that empowers communities across Canada with the data and information needed to build low-carbon, resilient housing and infrastructure. It is designed as the go-to destination to find the relevant, actionable data and information needed to understand climate risks and emissions, support decision-making, and find solutions. Delivered by ICLEI Canada with support from Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC), Climate Insight is part of the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure. Its first launch on October 24, 2024, marked the beginning of an exciting four-year journey of development designed with user feedback at the heart of the process. Climate Insight’s features, functionality, and content will continue to evolve to meet the needs of housing and infrastructure professionals.
How is Climate Insight working for you?
With user feedback informing the development of Climate Insight, features, functionality, and content are continuously evolving. If you have used Climate Insight, please complete our 45-second feedback survey to let us know how the platform is working for you!
Responding to the Rise in Misinformation
We Are Here to Support Municipalities Dealing With the Rise in Climate Misinformation
At ICLEI Canada we have always been peripherally aware of the rise of misinformation in the world around us, yet we are generally surrounded by supportive people striving towards similar goals to address global climate and sustainability challenges through local action. However, in recent months this rise in misinformation has started to hit much closer to home. We are aware that many municipalities have been approached with anti-ICLEI campaigns, from a “KICKLEI” advocate misrepresenting our organization’s work, partners and funders, asking to “kick” ICLEI out of communities with materials that falsify ICLEI’s work and illustrations that distort our logo.
It is our experience that this misinformation campaign is placing undue stress on municipal staff and elected officials and bogging down local democratic processes. To support municipalities dealing with these inquiries, we have put together a Responding to Climate Misinformation Resource Page on our website to help counter some of the arguments being put forward and provide resources from respected sources specifically for local governments in dealing with this growing problem.
In addition, we are actively exploring the rise of misinformation and how to respond to it with municipal practitioners, organizations, and academics. We hosted a “fishbowl” dialogue on Navigating Truth in the Age of Misinformation at the 2024 Livable Cities Forum to collaboratively brainstorm practical strategies and discuss case studies from municipalities tackling misinformation effectively. We are also collaborating with researchers at the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI) at the University of British Columbia on a research project exploring local government initiatives to combat climate misinformation supported under the Digital Citizen Contribution Program and will be sharing outcomes as these progress in 2025. Stay tuned and, in the meantime, please reach out or visit our Misinformation Resource Page if you are being targeted with misinformation. We are here to support municipalities in dealing with these inquiries.
Projects in the Works
Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast Regional Climate Collaborative
]The Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast Regional Climate Collaborative project will advance resilience within the coastal areas of the Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast Region through a series of coordinated actions co-developed with local governments, regional districts, First Nations, and health authorities. We will collaboratively identify, develop, and advance the implementation of strategies that address regional climate risks while also working to protect species at risk, enhance local biodiversity, and address regional health concerns. Read the press release and stay tuned to learn more.
Economic Tools to Advance Adaptation (ETAA)
Municipalities face an increasingly uncertain climate future, with unpredictable disturbances threatening to overwhelm budgets and disrupt critical services. By understanding and applying tools locally such as the Cost of Doing Nothing (CODN) toolbox or the N-ZAP’s Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Guide, participating municipalities will better assess the financial consequences of climate change, make proactive data-driven decisions, and strengthen their ability to plan for resilience. Stay tuned to learn more.
Living With Water
The Living With Water project encourages widespread adoption of flood-resilient building practices across Canada, leading to the development of training programs adapted to different audiences, as well as decision-support tools. These programs and tools will help make homes across the country less vulnerable to flood damage, thereby increasing residents’ safety, reducing property and structural damage, and minimizing post-flood repair costs and efforts.
Net-Zero Action Partnership (N-ZAP)
The N-ZAP Working Groups, co-chaired by ICLEI Canada, the University of Waterloo and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, have been busy preparing three key resources to be launched in 2025: a Climate Budgeting Guide, a Collaborative Governance Guide, and a Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Guide. Stay tuned for the release of these resources in the New Year.
Building to Net-Zero (BNZ)
Through the BNZ project, we are working with a collaborative cohort of small to mid-sized municipalities to help them develop and adopt tailored building energy performance roadmaps based on their unique goals and challenges. Accompanying one-on-one support for cohort members, we are also developing resources that will be shared with a national audience. This includes a jurisdictional scan report that explores local government authority and municipal efforts to advance building energy performance. We will also be starting our Canada-wide BNZ Community of Practice for broader knowledge mobilization toward building performance frameworks in municipalities across the country.
Local Climate Partnership
ICLEI is collaborating with the cities of Victoria, BC, Saskatoon, SK, and Kingston, ON, to establish Local Climate Partnerships that advance shared climate objectives and respond to each city’s unique challenges and priorities. The partnerships are built with the common objective of joining forces to support diverse stakeholders to invest in local communities and achieve the ambitious climate goals that have been set up.
Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation (ORCCA)
Over the past year, ORCCA has partnered with 34 communities across the Great Lakes Basin and Ontario to tackle climate challenges and foster resilience. As we look ahead to the New Year, we’re excited to share new adaptation resources, along with the results of our unique projects and programs. Stay tuned!
GCOM Implementation Cohort
Bridging the gap between planning and implementation is a formidable but necessary step in realizing our climate targets and securing a low-carbon, resilient future. The Global Covenant of Mayors (GCOM) Canada Implementation Cohort tackled this challenge by providing implementation support to municipal staff through one-to-one meetings, group trainings, and peer-to-peer workshops and tailored deliverables. Learn more about this unique collaboration and reflections from the project.
New Resources
Equitable Climate Adaptation Infographic
If you want to prioritize equitable climate adaptation in the New Year, this is the perfect time to revisit our Equitable Climate Adaptation resource and consider which actionable ideas, tools, and case study takeaways can be applied in your work. You can also now print an accompanying infographic, put it up by your desk, and refer to it throughout the year to keep equity considerations top-of-mind as you head into 2025.
PCP 2023-2024 Annual Insights Report
The Partners for Climate Protection program has been helping members meet local emissions reduction goals while enhancing the quality of life in their communities for 30 years. In the 2023-2024 Annual Insights Report, we look back on key areas where we feel our impact has been strongest as well as ways the program has evolved to meet the needs of our members.
Highlights from the 2024 Livable Cities Forum (LCF)
LCF 2024 was a great success and a reminder of the importance of collaboration, prioritizing relationships, and the power of candid conversations. The event convened local leaders, urban professionals, and on-the-ground practitioners from across Canada to explore how to apply multisolving to achieve a net-zero and resilient future.
Upcoming Events
N-ZAP Climate Budgeting Training
Join us at the Sustainable Communities Forum on Tuesday, February 11 at 9 am for a training session on Climate Budgeting and a sneak peek at the first of the N-ZAP Guides to be released.
Save the date for ICLEI’s World Local Government Climate Summit
ICLEI’s Global and Regional Executive will be meeting on the occasion of the World Local Government Climate Summit, April 14 – 16, 2025 in Goyang City, Korea.
Save the date for LCF 2025
Join us in Halifax, NS October 6-8 for LCF 2025. Save the date and stay tuned for more information in the New Year.
In Case You Missed It…
Climate Insight Webinar
In this webinar, we walked participants through Climate Insight’s various features and capabilities. Watch the replay to discover how Climate Insight can help you build low-carbon, resilient housing and infrastructure in your community today for a changing tomorrow.
LCF 2024 Presentations and Photos
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Vancouver for LCF 2024 to explore multisolving for a net-zero and resilient future. Visit the LCF website to browse speaker presentations, event photos, and more.
Municipal World Article on Climate Insight
Extreme weather and climate change are no longer distant concerns. They are pressing issues for elected officials, city managers, and public infrastructure professionals. “Climate change is impacting every municipality’s ability to deliver essential services,” said Mike Fabro, Manager of Climate Change Planning for the City of London. “In London, we are changing the way we build and maintain infrastructure because of climate change impacts. But we shouldn’t have to tackle this challenge alone. Practitioners across Canada are dealing with similar risks. Best practices need to be recognized and made widely available.”
Read the Municipal World article to see how Climate Insight is designed to support public housing and infrastructure professionals face the climate crisis head-on.
Join ICLEI Canada
Everyone at ICLEI Canada—including the LCF 2024 team pictured above—is motivated to work in the non-profit industry to help build low-carbon, resilient, and equitable communities. We are currently seeking experienced climate professionals to join our amazing team.
NEW! Senior Climate Change Project Officer, Quebec Office
We are seeking a Senior Climate Change Project Officer with 3+ years of professional experience to bring adaptation expertise to the creation of climate plans for Quebec municipalities. This role requires fluency in French and English as well as a range of research, communications, and project management skills and offers an excellent opportunity to further develop prior knowledge of climate change adaptation, risk reduction, vulnerability and risk assessment methodologies, urban planning and/or sustainability with valuable on-the-ground experience.
Project Director, Coastal Climate Resilience
We are seeking a BC-based Project Director with 7+ years of experience and familiarity with the needs and capacities of coastal communities across British Columbia to guide the development and implementation of the Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast Regional Climate Collaborative project. This project offers a unique opportunity to work with local governments, regional districts, First Nations, and health authorities to advance resilience within the coastal areas of the Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast and accelerate adaptation at a regional scale through integrated, inclusive, and innovative actions.
Mitigation Lead
We are seeking a Mitigation Lead with 7+ years of experience to provide technical and general support for climate mitigation work with a focus on advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure in communities across Canada. The Mitigation Lead will guide and support our team of mitigation professionals to deliver ICLEI programs and contribute to a dynamic roster of developing projects. This key role involves a variety of research, communications, and project management skills.
Welcome to the team!
Karina Richters, Engineering Director
Karina draws on her extensive experience working in local government to develop new and innovative programs that support broad and practical climate action. Karina is a licensed Professional Engineer with training in infrastructure resiliency, climate policy and procurement, climate law, and asset management, to name a few. She brings 20+ years of research, project management and supervisory experience in the field of municipal climate change including 15 years working at the City of Windsor where she worked in multi-disciplinary teams and led various innovative climate projects.
Josh Kelly, Engineering Director, Climate Insight
Josh is a driven climate action and sustainability professional who brings a wealth of experience in local government asset management, project management, climate action, and sustainability to his role of Engineering Director for Climate Insight. Josh is a registered Professional Engineer in BC, a Project Management Professional, and a Certified Energy Manager. He gained valuable experience with almost every aspect of municipal infrastructure management while working for the City of Prince George.
Juan Rueda, Climate Adaptation Program Manager
Juan leads an expanding team of adaptation and resilience professionals across various climate action initiatives. Before joining ICLEI, Juan managed projects and initiatives to create better public spaces while promoting inclusivity and creating resources to support neighbourhoods and communities during his time with Evergreen Canada and while working for the Ministry of Housing and the City of Bogota in Columbia.
Lubna Seal, Adaptation Program Lead, Climate Insight
Lubna supports the development and mobilization of Climate Insight with a focus on transforming data into valuable information to effectively communicate climate change risks. She brings a wealth of experience including a broad spectrum of climate risk assessment approaches to the team from her work experience with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and various United Nations programs in Bangladesh.
Niloofar Mohtat, Climate Change Project Coordinator
Niloofar provides technical guidance and general support for a wide range of climate change adaptation projects through the BARC program and ORCCA. She draws on her previous experience working at the intersection of climate change adaptation, urban planning, equity, and green infrastructure through the Climate and Equity Lab at York University. She also has a background in the spatial analysis of climate risks at federal and provincial scales.
Adrienne Kotler, Communications Coordinator
Adrienne draws on her expertise in communications and sustainability to support various projects including Climate Insight. She began her career managing cross-border conservation initiatives before shifting to focus entirely on communications, engagement, and advocacy to support urban sustainability. She worked as a Communications Expert with ICLEI Europe for five years before returning home to Toronto and joining the ICLEI Canada team.
Nenita Cabahug, Accountant
Nenita is a skilled and experienced Accountant at ICLEI Canada where she manages full-cycle accounting responsibilities. Known for her strong communication skills, she works closely with the ICLEI team and builds relationships across teams all while demonstrating keen attention to detail in her work. Nenita is a licensed Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a strong advocate for sustainability.
Ronald Liu, Intern
During his fall internship, Ronald developed an inventory documenting the role and use of Green Development Standards in adaptation and supported a project to advance adaptation policies in the City of Thorold’s Official Plan. He is currently working towards his Bachelor’s in Urban and Regional Planning, with a minor in environmental urban sustainability at Toronto Metropolitan University and a specialization in housing.
Aryane Plante, Intern
During her fall internship, Aryane worked on the Living With Water: Toolbox for Flood-Resilient Construction project from the Quebec office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law and had previous experience working on stakeholder mobilization in Quebec’s energy sector. Aryane is currently completing a Master’s in Environmental Management at Université Sherbrooke.
Reach us
ICLEI Canada
401 Richmond St W (Suite 204)
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8