Our goal is to create a shared effort to learn about climate change, apply those lessons to public practice and policy and use the tools available to ensure we are prepared, including:

• adoption of a climate lens to evaluate municipal decisions
• membership in Partners for Climate Protection, the national network of more than 400 municipalities who share the goal of acting on climate change, and
• the development and implementation of municipal climate action plans.

This year saw significant progress on Network members’ engagement with their municipalities. Some communities have actively embraced our model of a grassroots climate action group linked to and supporting a formal municipal climate committee and others are still building relationships and moving toward recognition of a shared agenda. We began work on a Municipal Milestones survey process that will ultimately allow GBCAN to track and compare engagement among member communities and their municipalities, and share progress on developing mitigation, adaptation, and public engagement strategies for climate change solutions. 

When we surveyed members on their municipal engagement strategies, we were able to develop these 12 steps to engagement:

1. Development of a grass roots community Climate Action Team (CAT)
2. Meeting with municipal staff and/or councillors and or formal presentations to Council
3. Municipal declarations or engagement with climate group’s events or projects
4. Formal CAT engagement within municipal consultation process to represent climate interests in planning processes
5. Municipal and CAT participation in shared learning about climate change and potential impacts
6. Establishment of a formal municipal climate change committee
7. Dedication of municipal resources to climate planning and/or engagement i.e., hiring a climate specialist or consultants
8. Municipality joins the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners in Climate Protection
9. Co-development of a municipal climate action plan
10. Shared projects to adapt, mitigate and/or engage residents in a climate change initiative
11. Funding for CAT or community-driven projects
12. Funding for the municipality for climate initiatives