CEA can do more to advance local climate and energy work because of its member community.
CEA members include more than 45 regional, municipal, and Indigenous governments as well as public and private sector organizations, associations, and foundations that are actively working to advance local climate action and community resilience.
The experiences and advice of our members shape the direction of CEA and ensures that our work is relevant. In return, members become part of a community of governments, companies, and organizations supported by CEA’s capacity and expertise. Together, we are working to lower local GHG emissions and create resilient, strong communities.
As a non-profit organization incorporated under the BC Societies Act, CEA is governed by a Board of Directors.
Why Membership in CEA?
Communities are finding themselves in an ever-evolving context as they look for ways to build resilience, lower emissions, and advance local priorities. The people doing this work within local and Indigenous governments benefit from the relationships, information and support that come from the CEA Member community.
CEA members constitute a dynamic community of practice that responds to member needs as they emerge. In 2026, this has included:
- Training about artificial intelligence
- A synthesis and dialogue about the CleanBC review
- Timely leadership by CEA to advocate for the recapitalization of the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) while supporting local efforts to demonstrate the value of the LGCAP
- A white paper on the status of renewable energy worldwide
We can only do this important work because of our member community.
CEA is a nonprofit charitable organization that functions primarily like a consulting firm; our projects are funded through a combination of consulting fees, grants, or donations. While this allows us to advance important climate and energy activities for communities across Canada, annual membership dues provide something equally important: unrestricted funds to respond, convene, and advocate in ways that are beyond the scope for our projects and programs.
Membership fees contribute to CEA’s activities like advocating for programs like LGCAP that directly benefit local governments and communities, representing member interests in forums like UBCM and producing resources and newsletters to help keep members informed. When you become a member, you're building our capacity and making it possible for us to transform what we are learning and doing in communities into broader provincial and national progress on climate and energy.
There is no official ‘local government climate’ professional body, so CEA membership feels as close to that as currently possible.
Membership Benefits
The CEA Membership Program provides focused support on emergent topics and priorities. Members can gain access to trusted expertise, insights, valuable networking, and collaborative opportunities that can save staff time, avoid duplicated efforts, and build connections that advance local priorities.
Strategic Advocacy and Advancement
Networking and Community of Practice
CEA creates a space for members to connect, collaborate and learn from one another.
These opportunities include the AGM, special events, working sessions, and member-focused gatherings. Starting in 2026, CEA will expand exclusive member sessions and provide complimentary or discounted access to various paid events.
Influence and Leadership
CEA members have the opportunity to help shape the direction of CEA’s work and the broader energy sector. Members provide input through engagement opportunities including during the Annual General Meeting (AGM), meetings and special events. This ensures CEA’s programs continue to be responsive to community needs.
Support and Information
Strategic Guidance and one-on-one Support
One-on-one check-ins with CEA staff on local climate action priorities. This may include guidance or feedback on funding applications, policies, bylaws, public messaging, and techniques for climate-related public engagement.
Peer Learning and Collaboration
CEA convenes members through meetings that are designed for learning, collaboration and connection. These meetings are opportunities for “deep dives” on relevant topics such as funding opportunities, government relations, public communications, and innovations on climate action and energy
Recognition
CEA recognizes its members as leaders in community climate action and is a way for local and Indigenous governments to demonstrate and showcase their commitment to building a resilient, healthy community. Members receive the following recognition:
- An exclusive “CEA Member” graphic that can be used by members to demonstrate their commitment to climate action and collaboration.
- Identification of members on the CEA website
- Recognition in presentations, proposals, and official publications such as the Annual Report.
- Eligibility for CEA’s new Climate and Energy Awards category – the Climate and Energy Champion Award, which recognize staff and elected officials of local governments and Indigenous communities who demonstrate strong personal commitment to advancing climate action and resilience within their organization. Only individuals who work for a CEA member community are eligible for a Champion award.
Annual Membership Fees*
* The CEA Board approves all new members, and conducts an annual review of in-kind memberships for non-profit associations. The founding members of CEA are the Province of BC and the Union of BC Municipalities.
** The Community Energy Association is committed to the Calls to Action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and recognizes the importance of the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Offering complimentary CEA membership to Canada’s First Nations is intended to honour and recognize the First Peoples in this land and support two-way learning and two-eyed seeing. It is one of the ways we are seeking to put the “Calls to Action” outlined in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Report into practice.
* The CEA Board approves all new members, and conducts an annual review of in-kind memberships for non-profit associations. The founding members of CEA are the Province of BC and the Union of BC Municipalities.
** The Community Energy Association is committed to the Calls to Action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and recognizes the importance of the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Offering complimentary CEA membership to Canada’s First Nations is intended to honour and recognize the First Peoples in this land and support two-way learning and two-eyed seeing. It is one of the ways we are seeking to put the “Calls to Action” outlined in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Report into practice.
Membership Program Updates
updated July 2026
CEA’s membership has been busy over the past several months. Activities have included:
- A workshop about artificial intelligence (AI) that explored what AI means for climate action work, building shared vocabulary and helping members make informed decisions about whether and how to integrate AI into their processes. This recording is available to new members.
- A deep-dive on the CleanBC Review Report, Rising to the Moment, with direct engagement with members on the findings and implications for local governments.
- Two Member Dialogue sessions on LGCAP advocacy - including insights from CEA's CEO, Megan Lohmann, on recent meetings with Provincial representatives, space to share your own experiences, and a collaborative look at what a reinvigorated LGCAP could look like given today's conditions and local government needs.
- CEA’s Annual General Meeting with a special guest speaker, Dr. Grace Nosek, an author, organizer, and scholar, who shared her vision and practice for joy-based climate engagement. Grace shared her unique approach to centering justice, joyful community, hope, agency, civic engagement and systems change in activism and left all of us with seeds of possibility and resilience to carry into our own communities.
Current CEA Members
