The Province has disbursed nearly $72 million in Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funding as an upfront payment to support community climate action over the next three years. The final year of LGCAP’s current 2022-25 funding allotment has been disbursed, alongside two additional years of roughly equivalent funding to extend the program through 2027.
The Local Government Climate Action Program was established in 2022 following the discontinuation of the Province’s Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) in 2021. At this time, UBCM called for the establishment of a replacement program with equal or greater funding, a formula that recognizes varying capacities for climate action, and more flexibility in using the funds provided.
This new program was allocated $76 million over three years (2022-2025) to support climate action initiatives by local governments and Modern Treaty nations that align with the Province’s CleanBC Roadmap and Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
The renewed funding distribution provides all local governments with a base allocation of $114,246, plus an additional amount based on the COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant’s adjusted per capita population allocation formula. Funding is relatively flexible and can be applied towards both capital and operational expenses. To date, local governments have primarily used this annual funding for staffing, initiatives related to buildings and transportation, and investments in more resilient infrastructure.
“This provincial program punches above its weight by supporting the efforts of local governments to lower emissions and adapt to our changing climate,” said UBCM president Trish Mandewo. “The accelerated delivery of funds by the Province will support the fast-tracking of local priorities and advance community-based climate change initiatives.”
UBCM’s membership has continuously advocated for increased funding and capacity to support emissions reduction efforts and enhance resilience to climate change. This funding is increasingly important as local governments work to reduce their emissions and manage climate impacts that are increasingly frequent and severe.
For questions about the Local Government Climate Action Program, please email the Communities team at the Province’s Climate Action Secretariat.