ICLEI Peer Network Q&A with Megan Meaney, Ewa Jackson, and Karina Richters

Municipal Staff Need Strong Support Networks to Advance Local Climate Action

The ICLEI Peer Network is a virtual space where municipal practitioners working to advance climate action in their communities can connect with peers from across Canada. It is designed as a supportive space for staff to discuss emerging issues, exchange insights, and get re-energized.

Ahead of the first Peer Network meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, ICLEI Canada’s Executive, Managing, and Engineering Directors share their thoughts on this new initiative.

Why was the Peer Network created? And why now?

Megan Meaney, Executive Director (MM): Through our work, we see municipal staff working on similar climate issues, but they usually don’t get to connect. Climate action is complex, and the work can sometimes feel isolating. The ICLEI Peer Network is here to change that.

Ewa Jackson, Managing Director (EJ): That’s right. We created the Peer Network to give municipal staff a space to connect with others doing similar work across the country. It’s a place to share ideas, talk through challenges, and learn from each other. We know this happens when we all get together in person, but what about when we’re sitting at our desks? The goal is to allow for connection and make people feel supported and re-energized in the important work they’re doing on climate.

Karina Richters, Engineering Director (KR): Connecting with peers was extremely valuable to me when I worked at the City of Windsor as the Supervisor of Sustainability and Climate Change. Events like the Livable Cities Forum provided an opportunity to have honest conversations about shared challenges with my peers, but it only really happened once per year. The Peer Network is designed to allow these conversations to happen more often as we recognize that the challenges municipal staff face are growing and changing rapidly.

What are some of the main challenges that municipalities face in climate action? How will this Peer Network help address these?

MM: Right now, there’s a need to build low-carbon and resilient housing, finance housing and infrastructure projects, define local priorities, and bring different groups together to co-create community and regionally specific solutions. This is what we envision the Peer Network to help do as well: co-create solutions. While these will vary from one community to the next, there’s a lot to be gained from exchanging and building off ideas.

EJ: I would add that meaningful relationships, with people who are engaged in similar work, provide a strong foundation for local climate action. Knowing who to reach out to if you’re looking for an example or need guidance to navigate a particular challenge makes a difference. People are also more likely to share information in confidence with peers they trust—and this kind of information sharing is very valuable. Hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly is better than just the shiny highlights! The Network is a way for people to connect and build these relationships and support networks.

The Peer Network will discuss timely and emerging issues brought forward by members. What kinds of topics do you think will be on the agenda?

MM: The first meeting will focus on climate misinformation at the local level—something we’re hearing about more and more from municipalities. Topics for future meetings will be set based on feedback we receive and the conversations that emerge. Our goal is to make sure the Network is grounded in reality and responsive to the needs of municipal staff.

The Peer Network is available and free for municipal and Indigenous community staff. What do you hope members will get from joining?

KR: It’s really about facilitating connection and collaboration. Municipal staff are dealing with increasingly complex challenges and they need a space where they can be honest about the struggles they face. When I worked in local government, the relationships I developed were instrumental in helping me navigate difficult situations. I often relied on my core group. We hope that this Peer Network will provide a space for others to make similar connections and that staff can leave each meeting feeling less overwhelmed, more connected to their peers, and inspired in their work.

A lot of municipal staff get to connect within communities of practice (CoP). How is the Peer Network different?

EJ: The Peer Network provides a space for deeper, more personal conversations on the topics that the network members see as important. CoPs often focus on knowledge-sharing and best practices within a given area of work, whereas the Peer Network is focused on open dialogue and giving people an opportunity to talk about their hurdles in real-time. It’s a more responsive format we’re hoping will fill a gap many municipal practitioners have told us about.

MM: It’s important to note that there will still be structure—we’re not asking people to show up and just start talking. The open conversations will be facilitated but, unlike CoPs, the themes of each meeting will reflect emerging trends and needs.

KR: The fact that these meetings will not be recorded and are only available to municipal staff also means that the conversations can be more candid. We want to create a place to delve deeper and more personally into challenges being brought up in CoP meetings.

What aspect of the Peer Network are you most looking forward to?

MM: It’s always insightful to hear from people on the ground. At ICLEI Canada, we get to do this daily through our work, but the conversation shifts when peers connect directly with peers. We’re looking forward to creating the conditions for those conversations to take place and seeing what emerges.

EJ: Yes—it’s really about listening to municipal staff. The Peer Network offers a framework, but we don’t exactly know what to expect, and that’s exciting. Sometimes the best ideas come when people are given a space and a simple structure that allows them to step outside their day-to-day, get creative, and connect the dots.

KR: I wish a network like this existed when I was working for the City of Windsor. I would add that I’m excited to see how the first year of the Peer Network unfolds and get feedback from municipal staff who participate.

The ICLEI Peer Network is only open to municipal and Indigenous community staff in Canada (registration requests are monitored accordingly). To join, simply fill out the registration form on the Peer Network web page.