December 2025 Newsletter
Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
What a year! Alongside partners, collaborators, and many committed individuals, we have a lot to celebrate as we reflect back on 2025. This year alone, we launched 10+ new resources, the Advancing Implementation Training Initiative (AITI), the Building to Net-Zero (BNZ) community of practice, the ICLEI Peer Network, two new Climate Insight releases, announced the return of Adaptation Canada, updated the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) and Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) frameworks, and hosted dozens of national and regional workshops, webinars, trainings, and other events both online and in-person.
While these numbers don’t tell the full story, they show that we are collectively building momentum despite a shifting political landscape and emerging challenges. This is especially true at the local level where climate action drives meaningful change. As is underscored in ICLEI’s statement on the outcomes of COP30, subnational and local leadership is key in building low-carbon, resilient, and equitable communities ready for the future.
This newsletter highlights our most recent updates and events, with many more to come in the New Year. We look forward to continuing to work with many of you on impactful and important local action, while sharing outcomes, learnings, and opportunities along the way.
Megan Meaney
Executive Director, ICLEI Canada
PCP and BARC Program Highlights
New! PCP Annual Report Highlights Emerging Trends and Focus Areas
Discover emerging trends and focus areas of the PCP program—including climate budgeting, nature-based solutions, and integrating reconciliation and EDI into climate action.
The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program has been helping members meet local emissions reduction goals while enhancing the quality of life in their communities for over 30 years. Today, the program includes more than 555 municipalities who are receiving support to reach their climate goals, reduce emissions and build more sustainable communities. In the 2024-2025 Annual Insights Report, we reflect on the past year, PCP members’ achievements, as well as key areas where the program has evolved to drive impact and meet the needs of our members.
Updated BARC Framework Launched this Fall
The Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) framework is now more flexible and adaptable than ever, with multiple pathways to support local resilience efforts from early planning through to implementation and monitoring.
If you are developing, implementing, or updating a climate adaptation plan next year, be sure to check out the updated BARC framework. Building on over 15 years of real-world application, the refreshed framework offers updated methods that make BARC even more flexible and adaptable, with multiple pathways to fit communities of all sizes, resources, and capacities. It also provides stronger support and guidance on business cases, financing, governance, implementation readiness, advancing equity, and working in the spirit of reconciliation across each milestone.
Events and Opportunities
Reducing Emissions From Building Materials
Join the next Building to Net-Zero (BNZ) Community of Practice to explore how to factor embodied carbon into building decarbonization.
When it comes to transitioning to net-zero, it is crucial to consider every part of building and construction, including the emissions associated with materials. Join us on Thursday, January 29, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET to explore how to factor embodied carbon into building decarbonization.
Misinformation and Local Climate Action
The next Partners of Climate Protection (PCP) Community of Practice will dive into misinformation and local climate action.
On Thursday, February 5, PCP members will hear from University of Sherbrooke researchers Olivier Champagne-Poirier and Marie-Eve Carignan and discuss issues related to local climate misinformation. This community of practice call will be in French with options for simultaneous translation.
Adaptation Canada 2026 is Building Momentum
Join over 1,000 leaders, practitioners, and community members in Toronto from September 22-24 for Canada’s national climate adaptation conference.
Recognizing that Canada’s biggest crises in economy, health, and housing are deeply connected to climate change, Adaptation Canada provides a platform to break down silos, build meaningful connections, and inform long-term strategies. The conference will feature engaging panels, interactive workshops, immersive sessions, and curated networking opportunities to support collaboration and action.
ICLEI Peer Network was a Success
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first year of the ICLEI Peer Network. We look forward to continuing these peer-to-peer exchanges in the New Year.
Together, municipal staff explored timely topics including Misinformation at the Local Level, Climate Change and Affordability, and Opportunities and Threats of AI. We look forward to more great candid conversations in 2026.
See You Online and in Person in 2026
Visit our events page to stay up-to-date on opportunities to connect, learn, and exchange knowledge. We will be announcing even more events in the New Year.
In Case You Missed It
Working with Contractors to Reach Net-Zero
When it comes to net-zero construction, working with contractors is key to achieving high-performance, affordable, and resilient buildings. Watch a replay of the last Building to Net-Zero Community of Practice to discover practical ways to involve contractors in the net-zero transition.
BARC Webinar: Evolving adaptation strategies to meet community needs
Learn what’s new with the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) framework, how the updated approaches strengthen adaptation planning, and how it can support communities at any stage of their resilience journey. This recording is available for anyone who could not attend the live session.
Climate Insight: New features help you build today for a changing tomorrow
Discover Climate Insight’s newest features, including first-of-its-kind Hazard Profile snapshots, and a Rapid Risk Assessment Tool. Learn from a panel and Q&A on how this free, online platform can help you build today for a changing tomorrow.
Highlights from the 2025 Livable Cities Forum
The 2025 Livable Cities Forum was a great success and a reminder of the importance of collaboration. The event brought together local leaders, urban professionals, and practitioners from across Canada to explore how creative partnerships can break down barriers and foster more livable communities. Read the highlights report to learn more.
Municipal World Article: Plan smarter, build safer
Climate hazards need to be at the forefront of housing and infrastructure decisions made today. Read a recent Municipal World article to see how Climate Insight’s newest features give communities the tools they need to plan smarter and get ahead of increasing climate risks.
Project Updates
Adaptation Canada 2026
Adaptation Canada will convene over 1,000 leaders from across sectors and regions in Toronto next year, September 22–24, 2026.
Adaptation Canada 2026 is Canada’s premier national conference on climate adaptation. Now in its third edition, it brings together participants from diverse Canadian sectors and communities to exchange ideas, share solutions, and spark action on climate resilience. Adaptation Canada 2026 is delivered by ICLEI Canada with support from a network of partners and sponsors. It is funded in part by the Government of Canada. Join us in shaping climate solutions across Canada.
Adaptation Implementation Training Initiative (AITI)
Together with 32 participants, we are making great progress towards the successful implementation of adaptation actions in communities across Canada.
AITI participants have been moving forward with implementation-ready adaptation actions. Cohorts continue to meet through their knowledge streams, with communities sharing lessons, addressing barriers, and refining strategies. Over the next few months, we will continue supporting peer-to-peer learning and full-group sessions focused on multi-solving and effective communication.
Building to Net-Zero (BNZ)
The 13 BNZ municipal cohort members have built roadmaps, completed energy and emissions reports, and are developing business cases on capital and operational costs of building to net-zero.
BNZ is a four-year training and capacity-building project designed to support municipalities in the adoption of building energy performance frameworks. This winter, we are launching a training for cohort members within their building sectors to help them work toward voluntary frameworks and incentives for greener development.
Climate Insight
The latest Climate Insight features make it easier than ever for communities to plan and build with local climate risks, hazards, and energy poverty in mind.
Climate Insight is the go-to destination for communities to find the tools and data they need to advance low-carbon, resilient housing and infrastructure. The platform is always evolving to meet user needs, and its newest features—a rapid risk assessment tool, a map feature that provides snapshot hazard profiles, and a new energy poverty map layer—give communities the tools they need to get ahead of increasing climate risks in just a few easy steps.
Coastal Climate Resilience Collaborative
Together with project partners and Advisory Group members, we are establishing a long-term shared vision and clear priorities to support stronger regional collaboration and resilience across the Pacific North Shore and Sunshine Coast.
The Coastal Climate Resilience Collaborative brings together local authorities to co-define, prioritize, and develop shared resilience, all while sharing knowledge and resources across jurisdictions. This fall, partners worked together to develop a shared 20-year and 200-year vision for climate resilience across the region. These long-range visions will guide the work we undertake over the next two years and help lay the foundation for sustained regional resilience. In the short term, Collaborative Community partners have submitted capital funding applications and are awaiting decisions.
Economic Tools to Advance Adaptation
Municipalities are working alongside stakeholders and industry experts to apply innovative economic tools and instruments, driving meaningful progress in climate adaptation.
Through this project, municipalities, stakeholders, and industry experts are using innovative economic tools and instruments to advance adaptation. Steering Committee members and participating municipalities came together in Halifax during the Livable Cities Forum 2025 in October for a workshop on municipal fiscal tools. Early feedback shows strong interest as participants explore innovative approaches to aligning fiscal instruments with adaptation and resilience.
Net-Zero Action Partnership (N-ZAP)
N-ZAP has launched several new learning tools and is now inviting Canadian communities to test them out and provide feedback.
N-ZAP was established to help Canadian municipalities monitor, measure, and achieve their GHG mitigation goals. Five N-ZAP working groups are collaborating on distinct objectives and sharing findings from research activities, including the Climate Budgeting Guide and Community Partnerships for Equitable Local Climate Action resources that were launched this year.
Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation (ORCCA)
ORCCA is here to help Great Lakes communities and other Ontario users better understand, cope, manage, and adjust to changing climatic conditions.
The ORCCA Support Desk offers free, practical adaptation support across Ontario, assisting users with finding climate data, understanding its implications, and applying it in local decisions and actions. Connect with us for tailored guidance to support your climate resilience journey.
Who Benefits, Who Pays
The project aims to understand and determine who benefits from investment in climate adaptation infrastructure and how this can guide financial frameworks to mobilize public and private capital.
Planning is underway for in-person workshops early next year, where municipalities and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to review and validate preliminary cost and benefit analyses. Feedback from these discussions will help shape the final research findings across all three municipal contexts.
Catch up on Resources
2025 was a big year for ICLEI Canada resources. We launched reports, guides, case studies, and toolkits and made many webinars, workshops, and community session replays available online. Take a look at these resources and use them to support your climate action work.
Welcome to the Team!
Joshua Welch
Josh Welch joined the ICLEI Canada Team this fall as a Climate Change Project Coordinator. He brings over seven years of experience leading municipal climate programs, policy tools, and knowledge-sharing resources that advance local resilience and low-carbon solutions.
Violet Massie-Vereker
Violet Massie-Vereker also joined the team this fall. In her role of Climate Change Project Assistant, she brings experience in data-driven climate projects, vulnerability mapping, and civic engagement to help municipalities strengthen climate resilience.
Mohammed Shihan
During his fall internship at ICLEI Canada, Mohammed Shihan supported the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) team through research, project analysis, and applied data work.
New Job Opportunity
Climate Change Project Officer, Quebec Office
We are seeking a Climate Change Project Officer with 2+ years of professional experience to support the creation and implementation of climate plans for francophone municipalities. This role requires fluency in French and English as well as a range of research, communications, and project management skills.
Happy Holidays
After a very full year, we are looking forward to taking a winter break. Most of the ICLEI Canada team will be offline from December 22 to January 2, returning to inboxes on January 5. Until then, follow us on LinkedIn where we will be sharing resources and fun updates as we count down to the New Year! 🎊
Reach us
ICLEI Canada
401 Richmond St W (Suite 204)
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8