Exiting the BC Climate Action Charter & PCP Program: A Guide for Local Governments
Prepared by KICLEI Canada | July 2025
Purpose of This Guide
This report is intended to help British Columbia municipal councils, staff, and residents understand the nature of the BC Climate Action Charter, its connection to the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, and the voluntary pathways for withdrawal.
Executive Summary
All British Columbia municipalities are currently signed onto the BC Climate Action Charter, and 96 have also committed to the PCP program. Both are voluntary, internationalized frameworks that promote a net-zero agenda without regard for local realities, natural carbon sinks, or infrastructure-based emissions reductions.
Municipalities can—and should—withdraw. Nothing prevents councils from pursuing common-sense environmental upgrades, energy efficiency, or stewardship efforts outside of these costly, top-down programs.
Key Points
Many municipalities naturally reduce emissions through routine infrastructure renewal—without needing top-down targets or carbon credit schemes.
The BC Climate Action Charter is a voluntary political agreement, not a legally binding mandate.
Participation in the Charter triggers emissions tracking, net-zero commitments, and suggested alignment with the PCP program.
Councils can withdraw from the Charter through a local resolution—just as they opted in.
Withdrawing from the Charter is currently the only way for BC municipalities to fully exit the net-zero framework.
Many residents choose to live in BC specifically to avoid compact, high-density urban development, and these lifestyle preferences deserve respect.
Net-zero mitigation efforts are expensive and, given their voluntary nature, should be carefully scrutinized before and after adoption.
What is the BC Climate Action Charter?
The Charter was launched in 2007 by the Province of BC, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), and signatory local governments. Over 180 BC municipalities and regional districts have signed the Charter.
By signing, a municipality commits to:
Becoming carbon neutral in local government operations.
Measuring and reporting GHG emissions.
Supporting compact, energy-efficient community development.
Participation enables access to:
Reporting support, such as LGCAP survey templates and carbon neutrality guidance—but only if the municipality actively tracks and reports emissions in line with provincial climate expectations.
Basic emissions tracking tools, such as GHG calculation spreadsheets, LGCAP self-assessments, and templates—all of which are publicly available and used by many municipalities, regardless of Charter status.
CARIP (now discontinued) and LGCAP (Local Government Climate Action Program) funding. LGCAP currently offers a small annual grant (~$30,000 for mid-sized municipalities) to support climate-related reporting and action, though this funding is not exclusive to Charter signatories.
Emissions data from the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory (CEEI), compiled by the Province every 2–3 years. This data is made available to all local governments, whether or not they have signed the Charter.
Tools and guidance from the Green Communities Committee (GCC), a joint initiative between UBCM and the Province. While GCC materials are promoted through Charter participation, they are not legally restricted to signatories.
How Does the Charter Connect to the PCP Program?
The PCP program is co-managed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI Canada, an international NGO implementing UN-aligned climate goals.
When BC municipalities sign the Climate Action Charter, they effectively adopt similar, but less intensive GHG tracking and reporting expectations as PCP members.
PCP participation includes a 5-step milestone process aligned with international net-zero targets (e.g., 45% by 2030, net-zero by 2050).
However, the PCP program imposes more demanding data and planning requirements than the Charter alone. While the Charter relies on provincial tools like CEEI for community emissions and simplified local government inventories, PCP requires municipalities to conduct detailed internal tracking, prepare comprehensive climate action plans, and submit progress reports aligned with international benchmarks.
This added burden of staff time, reporting, and compliance makes PCP duplicative, costly, and unnecessary for municipalities already meeting provincial expectations through LGCAP and CEEI. For this reason, withdrawal from PCP should be strongly considered.
Why Withdraw?
Net-zero is not free. Mitigation programs come at a real and growing cost to municipalities. These costs include consultants, infrastructure overhauls, emissions tracking systems, carbon credit purchases, and administrative time—all to meet targets that are voluntary, non-binding, and globally directed.
Despite claims of access to provincial or federal funding, there is no public accounting of the full cost to implement net-zero commitments under PCP or the Climate Action Charter. While municipalities may receive small grants or incentives, no one is calculating the long-term operational, capital, and financial liabilities of meeting these escalating targets. Without a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, councils cannot responsibly justify participation.
Many local governments are reconsidering their involvement due to:
Escalating targets not aligned with local emissions profiles or capacities.
Rising costs for capital upgrades, consultants, and carbon tracking.
Lack of credit for pre-existing carbon sinks (forests, wetlands).
Loss of local control as international frameworks override regional realities.
Unrealistic planning assumptions that promote high-density, compact growth patterns that do not reflect resident preferences or rural realities.
High cost of voluntary net-zero mitigation policies, which are often implemented without full public debate or cost-benefit analysis.
Examples:
The City of Lethbridge reduced its climate targets, saving $63 million.
The City of Thorold, ON formally withdrew from PCP.
Renfrew County discovered that net-zero programs fail to account for any preexisting carbon sinks.
How to Withdraw
Step 1: Draft a Council Resolution
A formal council resolution may take the following form:
Sample Council Resolutions
Option 1: Withdraw from PCP Only
That Council direct staff to initiate the City’s withdrawal from the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, as it is voluntary, not required by legislation, and not aligned with immediate core local priorities.
Option 2: Withdraw from the BC Climate Action Charter Only
That Council direct staff to notify the Province and UBCM of the City’s decision to withdraw from the BC Climate Action Charter, recognizing that it is voluntary and contributes to rising costs outside of core service delivery.
Option 3: Withdraw from Both PCP and the Charter
That Council direct staff to formally withdraw the City from both the PCP program and the BC Climate Action Charter, as both are voluntary, non-mandated frameworks that conflict with local autonomy and drive up unnecessary costs.
Step 2: Review and Debate in Public Meeting
Ensure public transparency and allow for community input.
Step 3: Notify the Province and UBCM
A letter should be sent to:
Minister of Municipal Affairs
UBCM President
FCM (if PCP member by separate resolution)
Optional Clause: Limit Future ICLEI Engagement
Councils may also direct staff to:
Identify any relationships with ICLEI Canada or affiliated organizations.
Suspend engagement with ICLEI and affiliates unless reapproved by Council.
Recommended Action
➡️ Withdraw from the PCP program immediately due to its costly, redundant, and internationally driven compliance structure, and consider withdrawing from the BC Climate Action Charter if it no longer aligns with the municipality’s fiscal priorities, infrastructure realities, or local planning values.
Conclusion
Withdrawing from the BC Climate Action Charter and PCP is a lawful, democratic, and fiscally responsible choice for municipalities that wish to reclaim local authority. This decision should be made transparently and with full regard for the needs and values of the community.
For templates, council motions, or deputation support, visit www.kiclei.ca or contact info@kiclei.ca