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Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP)

Accepting applications
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Program Category: Clean Energy, Sustainable Transportation, Community Infrastructure, Climate Preparedness and Adaptation
Project Type(s): Energy Efficiency (Housing / Buildings), Renewable Energy, Mapping, Risk Assessments, Active Transportation, Monitoring, Emergency Mitigation / Preparedness / Planning, Zero Emission Vehicles and Charging Stations, Waste Reduction and Circular Economy, Natural Asset Inventories and Management

Intake Type

Continuous Intake

Funder

BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions (ECS)

Funding Organization Type

  • BC Provincial Government

Funding Range

  • Small (up to $50K)
  • Medium ($50K-$250K)
  • Large ($250K-$500K)
  • Major (over $500K)

Eligible Community

  • Local Governments
  • Modern Treaty Nations

Eligible Project Activities

  • Project Feasibility
  • Operations and Maintenance
  • Capacity Building for the Community
  • Project Planning
  • Project Implementation (e.g. Design / Procurement / Construction)

The LGCAP provides funding for local governments and Modern Treaty Nations to plan and implement climate action that will reduce emissions, create new opportunities for people in the clean economy and prepare communities for future climate impacts. As part of the program, recipients of funding are required to report on their actions.
 
The program is currently in its fifth year. Process and reporting refinements have been made in collaboration with local governments and Modern Treaty Nations based on engagement through the first four years of the Program. 
 
This program:

  • Provides flexible, long-term funding that meets urban and rural needs

  • Enables community-specific action to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience

  • Enables robust reporting to track results, share community-level climate action publicly, and help improve the program over time

  • Enables knowledge sharing among local governments and Modern Treaty Nations to promote innovative climate action across the province 

Eligible Community

Eligible communities include B.C. Local Governments and Modern Treaty Nations:
 
B.C. Local Government: Participants must be a municipality or regional district established by or under British Columbia statute and be a signatory to the B.C. Climate Action Charter.
 
Modern Treaty Nation: There are eight B.C. Modern Treaty Nations:Huu-ay-aht Nation, Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h', Toquaht Nation, Uchucklesaht Nation, Yuułuʔiłʔath Nation, Tla’amin Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation and Nisga’a Nation. 

Required Community Contribution

No community contribution required

Funding Stacking Restrictions

No

Professional Input Required

No

Specific Eligibility Requirements

1.    Be a signatory to the B.C. Climate Action Charter or a B.C. Modern Treaty Nation.
 
2.    Measure and report traditional services GHG emissions for local governments with populations exceeding 10,000 residents. Reporting traditional services emissions is not mandatory for Modern Treaty Nations. Please see the Provincial guidance on current best practices for quantifying and reporting GHG emissions.
 
3.    Report on projects linked to one or more CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 and/or Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy objectives including, but not limited to:
 

  • Buildings: Step code adoption, carbon pollution standard, energy efficient/demand side management programs, zero carbon heating requirement and/or net zero buildings commitments.

  • Transportation: Active transportation plan or investments, secure bike parking, commute reduction programs, transit/pedestrian-oriented development regulation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure plans or number of public installations, trip reduction programs, mode shift targets in Official Community Plan and/or Regional Growth Strategy.

  • Community climate planning and related investments: Compact & energy efficient community planning, organic diversion, completed climate or energy emission plan, and renewable energy investments.

  • Climate resilience: Assessment of current and future climate risks and plans to address risks through local government planning, programming, service delivery, asset management and other functions.

  • Education and awareness: Communications (newsletters, website content), engagement with constituents on climate- related matters, or educational programming (i.e., through rec centers).

4.    Have a Chief Financial Officer, or equivalent position, sign the attestation form to confirm all funds were, or will be, used for climate action.
5.    Post a PDF version of the completed annual program report and attestation form publicly.

Type of Funding

  • Grant

Range of Funding Available per Project

  • Small (up to $50K)
  • Medium ($50K-$250K)
  • Large ($250K-$500K)
  • Major (over $500K)

Description of Funding

Most recently, through Budget 2024, the Province provided nearly $72 million to communities in a three-year lump sum. Funds are distributed to eligible governments based on each community’s population and a base amount. Participating governments are required to show funds have been invested in projects that support the objectives of the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 or the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. For more detailed information, please see the program website.

Eligible Costs

Design
Planning
Capital Costs
Community Engagement
Equipment/Material Purchase
Project Management
Staff Costs
Capacity Building for the Community
Training
Reporting
Awareness and Education
Research and Development

Funding must be used to achieve community and provincial climate objectives, aligned with the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 and/or the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The requirement to use the dollars for climate initiatives is intended to be broad and non-prescriptive. Eligible expenditures can include staffing, contracts, investments to improve energy efficiency, investing in climate infrastructure, matching funds to leverage funding from the federal government or other parties, communications, and engagement. 

Reporting Requirements

Final report only