Local Government Peer Networks

Community Energy Association facilitates peer networks that address a spectrum of high-priority climate action topics and foster regional collaboration and alignment.  

• Accelerate local government understanding and adoption of the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code 
• Support local governments for successful implementation of the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code 
• Provide a communication channel between local governments and the Energy Step Code Council 

• Building Code Update
• Zero Carbon Stepcode
• Capacity Building in Northern and Rural BC

• Replicate bylaws from other communities 
• Participate in collaborative efforts to build industry capacity 
• Engage with Building Saftely and Standards Branch on proposed Building Code updates 
• Inform the development of resources such as Low Carbon Building Systems in Energy Step Code Requirements and the Best Practices Guide for Local Governments 

• Accelerate BC’s transition toward zero emissions in existing buildings 
• Accelerate local government understanding on policy and program innovations 
• Align community-scale efforts for improved co-ordination and results 
• Provide a communication channel between local governments, indigenous communities and organizations, to coordinate input and ideas back to the Province 

• Alterations Code 
• Industry Capacity Building 
• Heat pumps 
• Climate resiliency 
• Multi-unit residential buildings 
• Financing & incentives  

• Share and replicate initiatives from other communities 
• Participate in collaborative efforts to build industry capacity 
• Engage with the Province on proposed retrofit programming and policies 

• Support communities in accelerating the transition to electric mobility by sharing knowledge, replicating learnings, and adapting high-impact actions to their context.
• Increase information sharing between local and other levels of government and partners regarding relevant resources and updates on policies, programs, and funding.
• Build professional connections and relationships while providing a supportive and positive climate community.
• Facilitate the exchange of valuable mentorship and provide foundational climate education for staff.

• E-mobility Network Strategy and Implementation 
• Low Carbon Fuel Credits 
• Fleet Decarbonization 
• ZEV Outreach and Communications 
• Shifting Beyond the Car 

• “EV Ready” Requirements for New Buildings: A Best Practice Guide for BC Local Governments 
• The EV Charging Criteria Working Group, Metro Vancouver, Capital Regional District, and City of Vancouver provided support and feedback for BC Hydro’s refreshed Fast Charging Design Guidelines Document. 

• Accelerate local government understanding and adoption of Embodied Emissions reduction strategies;
• Prepare local governments for the successful implementation of Embodied Emissions targets and policies; and
• Provide a communication channel between local governments to collaborate and learn from each other.

• Embodied Carbon Guidelines 
• Deconstruction and Circularity 
• Mass Timber Construction 
• Low-Carbon Building Materials 
• Green Building Policy   
• Understanding the regulatory levers to require Embodied Carbon reporting 

• Embodied Emissions Guide – Policies, Programs and Incentives to reduce Embodied Emissions in the built environment  

• Receive support from peers working in this space
• Learn from other’s successes and challenges
• Have strategic conversations to align the work that needs to be done with what is already happening
• Identify and build best practices

• Focus primarily on regionally relevant topics and issues
• Promote the sharing of climate action-related knowledge
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and implementation
• Provide opportunities for staff to give and receive feedback to various levels of government

• Resilience

• Sharing knowledge, experience, and resources
• Discuss and implement opportunities to collaborate on climate action
• Leverage capacity and expose participants to new funding opportunities
• Cover regionally-relevant topics and issues both in climate mitigation and adaptation

• Regional public EV charging network
• Building sector knowledge and skills development
• Coordinated approach to adaptation & resilience

• Accelerate implementation of low-carbon solutions that foster and support community well-being and preparedness for local climate impacts
• Encourage local/regional innovation, research, and bold decision-making
• Expose participants to new funding, contacts, and opportunities

NorthCAN meetings feature examples of projects and initiatives in communities throughout Northern BC for the purposes of information-sharing and possible replication. Recent examples have included energy-efficient homes, innovative wood products, low-carbon fuel production, removing organic waste from curbside garbage collection, collaboration between municipalities and First Nations communities, and fostering more low-carbon transportation options. 

• Cover regionally-relevant climate topics
• Sharing knowledge, experience, and resources
• Discuss and implement opportunities to collaborate on climate action
• Leverage capacity and expose participants to new funding opportunities

• Resilience

• Bring together locally elected officials interested in accelerating the implementation of low-carbon solutions in their community. 
• Increase information sharing between local and other levels of government and partners regarding relevant resources and updates on policies, programs, and funding.  
• Build professional connections and relationships while providing a supportive and positive climate community. 
• Facilitate the exchange of valuable mentorship and provide foundational climate education for elected officials. 

• Clean energy transition and decarbonization 
• BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code 
• Active Transportation & Better Transit Solutions

• Bring together locally elected officials interested in accelerating the implementation of low-carbon solutions in their community. 
• Increase information sharing between local and other levels of government and partners regarding relevant resources and updates on policies, programs, and funding.  
• Build professional connections and relationships while providing a supportive and positive climate community. 
• Facilitate the exchange of valuable mentorship and provide foundational climate education for elected officials. 

• Zero Emission, Resilient Buildings 
• Low Carbon Mobility 
• Closing the Loop on Waste