This past year has been a critical one for LC3, as the network completed foundational work on multiple fronts and advanced activities on both the local and National levels. The LC3 Network is well and truly launched. Here are the highlights.
- All seven LC3 Centres officially up and running. The LC3 Network hit a milestone in January 2022, shifting from start-up phase to full implementation following the final transfer of funds to the newest of the seven LC3 Centres.
- Over 100 community leaders participating in local governance. Local boards and advisory committees have been established, including representatives from municipal government, investing, academia, environmental action, impact analysis, economic development and more.
- Six shared metrics were established. The LC3 Network co-created and implemented a shared Theory of Change and performance measurement framework to allow apples-to-apples comparison of work outcomes for learning purposes. Along with reviewing GHG impact and jobs benefits, new metrics assess the potential of funded work to achieve full-scale adoption and to generate multiple community benefits.
- Supported 135 Mt of potential carbon reductions. LC3 committed $2.3M in funding to more than 40 community grants and programs customized to local needs and undertaken with local champions and partners, for example:
- Climate Innovation Fund (CIF): Accelerating Retrofits in Commercial Buildings
- Greater Montreal Climate Fund (GMCF): Propulsion Quebec’s School Bus Electrification Project – A Digital Guide for Operators
- HCi3: Grant Program, Refining the focus areas
- Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF): Supporting EnviroCentre’s EV Experience to drive electric vehicle adoption
- TAF: Supporting adoption of Green Development Standards for new buildings
- Metro Vancouver Zero Emission Innovation Centre (ZEIC) and ZEBx: A dedicated decarbonization hub
- Encouraged stronger building codes and standards. The Network worked with Efficiency Canada to advance adoption of ambitious building codes and standards in Canada, putting every new and existing building on a pathway to complete decarbonization.
- Identified and shared six key local actions to accelerate adoption of EVs. The Network collaborated to develop a guide for municipal decision makers on how to enhance their unique positioning to enable zero emission vehicle adoption, identifying six essential approaches. Find the guide here.
- Undertook action research on multi-solving climate program design. The Multi-Solving Design Challenge online game was created in partnership with the Centre for Social Innovation to explore how to integrate climate action and community benefits in program design. Findings were drawn based on the experience of the first 100 game participants. Read the full article here.
- Convened two meetings of the LC3 Network. Representatives from all seven LC3 Centres met during LC3 Summit meetings in the Spring and Fall of 2022. The group leveraged in-person meetings to deepen relationships, share local knowledge and create new shared goals and program designs for 2023.
The LC3 Network looks forward to engaging diverse partners in 2023 to accelerate towards a net-zero future, and to ensure we capture the exciting community benefits a low-carbon pathway can bring.