Exposing the Costs: How Lethbridge Challenged the PCP’s 40% Target and Put Local Priorities First

Lethbridge Leads: When a City Asks the Right Questions

In a powerful example of what local democracy can achieve, the City of Lethbridge recently voted to reduce its climate reduction target under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI's Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program—lowering the goal from 40% to 20%.

Why does this matter? Because for the first time in years, a city asked the right questions—and got real answers.

City Hall, City of Lethbridge. Where council voted on May 13, 2025, to reduce its PCP target from 40% to 20%, following a staff-led review and resident input. Image source: PrairiesCan / Government of Canada

The Numbers That Changed the Debate

Lethbridge City Council had previously adopted a 40% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target. But when the time came to evaluate how to implement it, city staff ran the numbers. What they found was startling:

• $83 million to meet the 40% target

• Of that, $63 million would go not to infrastructure or community services, but to the purchase of carbon credits

In other words, over 75% of the cost would leave the city to fund abstract global accounting mechanisms—not tangible improvements for residents.

The Missing Data

How did Lethbridge arrive at a 40% reduction in the first place? According to Councillor Belinda Crowson, the 40% goal wasn’t based on any formal recommendation from administration:

“Now if I remember back to how we came to the 40%—I know I was on council when that happened. It was not the recommendation… of administration. We can blame this… on Councillor Kaufman. He basically just laid down a challenge going, ‘Hey, wouldn’t 40% be better?’ And that was what got voted in without much discussion that day.”

This revelation crystallized what many local residents already suspected: these targets are often imported, not homegrown. In fact, the PCP program itself encourages municipalities to align with international goals:

“In order to meet ambitious federal and international recommendations, the Milestone Framework encourages members to set a midterm target and a long-term target. This recommendation aligns with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) scientific targets of a 45% reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.” — PCP Program Website

They sound ambitious, but come with little discussion of cost, feasibility, or long-term impact.

When Staff Lead by Example

In a rare but commendable move, it was city staff who took the lead in recommending a more fiscally responsible path. Mandy and Mark presented a thorough review to council on May 1 (video linked), offering four clear, costed options:

1. Option A: Achieve 40% reduction using 22 initiatives, including green credits ($83M capital, $6.7M operating)

2. Option B: Achieve 40% using only high-ROI initiatives, still reliant on green credits

3. Option C: Reach 20% reduction without purchasing green credits (estimated $20M)

4. Option D: Business-as-usual approach, achieving ~17.8% reduction from existing projects ($17M)

Staff formally recommended Option C—a 20% reduction without reliance on external credit schemes—as the most fiscally responsible and realistic approach given current constraints.

Council voted on May 13 to adopt Option C (video linked).

Community Support Helped Cement the Decision

KICLEI members and local residents actively supported the move to reduce the target. They had previously delivered delegations in 2024 and, after spotting the item on the council agenda in late April, quickly mobilized again. They prepared and submitted over a dozen well-reasoned emails, and several made public delegations in support of fiscal responsibility and local oversight.

Many advocates urged council to adopt Option D—business as usual—as the most prudent path, but were satisfied that the city settled on Option C, which avoids carbon credits and limits costs while still demonstrating local action.

This collaboration between engaged citizens, responsible staff, and an open council sends a strong message: transparency and local oversight can prevail over imported targets.

Why This Matters Nationally

Lethbridge has set a powerful precedent:

Importantly, Lethbridge’s review proves what many have long argued: the PCP program is not free. While membership may not carry a direct fee, the cost of implementing targets—especially through carbon credits—can reach tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. This revelation underscores the need for every municipality with a 40% PCP target to ask: who set this target, what will it cost, and who benefits?

The PCP program functions as a kind of "mini Paris Accord"—aligning local policies with global climate targets such as net-zero by 2050 and a 45% reduction by 2030. Yet most members of the public are never informed of this connection, and many councils are not fully aware of the financial or jurisdictional implications.

For municipalities already committed to a 40% reduction under PCP, Lethbridge offers a practical roadmap. Councillors elsewhere should consider putting forward a motion to request similar clarity. Here is a suggested motion based on the Lethbridge model:

Motion for Consideration:
Title: Request for Review and Cost Assessment of the PCP GHG Reduction Target
WHEREAS the municipality is a member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, with a stated greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 40% by 2030;
AND WHEREAS recent analysis by the City of Lethbridge revealed significant financial implications associated with achieving this target—particularly due to reliance on the purchase of carbon credits;
AND WHEREAS responsible fiscal stewardship and transparency require council to fully understand the costs, trade-offs, and implementation pathways associated with such targets;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Staff be directed to prepare a report that outlines a costed breakdown of options to meet the existing PCP reduction target, including but not limited to:

   • Implementation costs of current PCP initiatives

   • The role and cost of carbon credits or green energy purchases

   • A comparison of alternatives, including lower reduction targets or a business-as-usual path

2. The report include a recommendation from administration regarding the most fiscally responsible and locally appropriate path forward.

3. The findings be presented at a future meeting of council, with adequate time for public delegations and community input.

This win was only possible because staff asked the right questions—and local people showed up to support them.

More communities across Canada are beginning to do the same.

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