KICLEI Alberta Report
Reevaluation of Climate Action Plans and ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection Program Participation
Alberta Municipalities: Reevaluation of Climate Action Plans and ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection Program Participation
Date: January 11, 2025
To: Alberta Mayor and Councillors of the City of Calgary, City of Beaumont, City of Cold Lake, City of Edmonton, City of Grande Prairie, City of Leduc, City of Lethbridge, City of Spruce Grove, City of St. Albert, Municipal District of Big Lakes County, Municipality of Jasper, Parkland County, Strathcona County, Town of Banff, Town of Canmore, Town of Cochrane, Town of Devon, Town of Diamond Valley, Town of Drayton Valley, Town of Hinton, Town of Innisfail, Town of Okotoks, Town of Olds, Town of Rimbey, and the Town of Stony Plain.
Subject: Concerns Regarding Climate Action Plans and ICLEI’s Partners for Climate Protection Program
Executive Summary
This report advises Alberta municipalities to critically reevaluate participation in the ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program and the implementation of Climate Action Plans. While marketed as progressive climate initiatives, these programs often impose significant financial burdens on municipalities, particularly rural and smaller communities, without yielding proportional benefits.
Alberta is a net carbon sink due to its vast forests, wetlands, peatlands, and agricultural lands, which naturally absorb more CO₂ than the province emits. This fact challenges the necessity and cost-effectiveness of adopting net-zero frameworks.
Further, Alberta municipalities face full financial and legal liability for any failures in implementing PCP programs, while ICLEI and its funding partners explicitly disclaim responsibility.
Redirecting municipal resources from externally driven climate programs to locally prioritized issues such as affordable housing, energy security, economic development, public safety, and environmental stewardship will better serve residents.
Key Recommendations:
Pause and Reevaluate PCP participation and Climate Action Plans.
Ensure Transparency through financial audits and public consultation.
Withdraw from the PCP Program and redirect funds to local initiatives.
Prioritize Practical Environmental Stewardship over costly net-zero targets.
Address Immediate Municipal Needs such as housing, energy, and public safety.
The Alberta Municipal Government Act and Council Authority
Under the Municipal Government Act (MGA), RSA 2000, c M-26, Alberta municipal councils have the legal responsibility to govern in the best interests of their municipalities. 1 Specifically:
Section 153 of the MGA mandates that councillors must "consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole and bring to council’s attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality."
Section 201(1) confirms that councils are responsible for "developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality" and for "ensuring that the powers, duties, and functions of the municipality are appropriately carried out."
Councillors swear an Oath of Office to "diligently, faithfully, and to the best of my ability, fulfill the duties of my office."
These provisions clarify that decision-making power rests solely with elected municipal councils—not with external consultants or staff. Councils must ensure that participation in programs like ICLEI’s Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) aligns with the municipality’s financial capacity and community priorities.
Legal Context: International, Federal, and Provincial Requirements
1. The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is a non-binding international treaty that commits federal governments, not municipalities, to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets.
Alberta municipalities are under no legal obligation to align their policies with the Paris Agreement or participate in ICLEI programs.
2. Federal Legislation — Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act requires the federal government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
This legislation does not impose mandates on municipal governments regarding emissions reduction policies. 2
3. Alberta’s Provincial Climate Policies
Alberta’s Emissions Management and Climate Resilience Act (EMCRA) focuses on regulating industrial emissions but does not impose net-zero targets on municipalities. 3
The Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation applies exclusively to large industrial emitters and does not mandate municipal participation in net-zero programs. 4
Liability Waivers and What They Mean for Municipalities
ICLEI, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the Government of Canada offer support for the PCP program but explicitly waive all liability for any legal, financial, or operational consequences municipalities may face.
PCP Program Disclaimer:
"This project was carried out with assistance from the Green Municipal Fund, a Fund financed by the Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (Management) Inc. Notwithstanding this support, the views expressed are the personal views of the authors, and ICLEI Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Government of Canada accept no responsibility for them." 5
Implications for Alberta Municipalities:
Voluntary Participation: Municipalities can opt in or out of the PCP program without legal penalties.
Full Liability: Municipalities bear all financial and legal risks associated with PCP participation.
Financial Burden: Long-term costs for program implementation fall entirely on municipalities, with no guarantees of success or liability protection.
Practical Example: Cost and Risk Projections
Participation in the PCP program is often marketed as a low-cost initiative; however, significant hidden costs exist. These financial demands disproportionately burden rural and smaller municipalities with recurring expenses tied to externally driven objectives.
Estimated Costs for PCP Participation and Implementation
Milestone/Initiative Estimated Cost Range
Baseline Emissions Inventory $10,000–$50,000
Emissions Reduction Targets $5,000–$25,000
Local Action Plan Development $20,000–100,000
Implement Action Plan $50,000–1,000,000+
Monitor and Report Results $10,000–50,000 annually
Municipal Fleet Upgrades $500,000–5,000,000+
EV Charging Stations $100,000–1,000,000+
Smart City Technology $500,000–5,000,000+
Circular Economy Initiatives $1,000,000–10,000,000+
15-Minute City Model $5,000,000–50,000,000+
Active Transportation Networks $1,000,000–20,000,000+
Urban Densification $5,000,000–100,000,000+
Total Cost Range:
Modest Implementation: $7.2 million
Comprehensive Implementation: $192 million+6
These conservative estimates underscore the financial burden imposed by PCP participation and Climate Action Plan implementation. A thorough cost analysis of the program and plan expenditures to date and anticipated future costs is essential.
Alberta’s CO₂ Emissions and Carbon Sequestration Capacity
Provincial Emissions
Alberta has a population of approximately 4.8 million residents as of 2024.7 Using Canada’s average per capita emissions of 14.2 tonnes of CO₂ per year, Alberta’s gross emissions are calculated as follows:
4.8 million residents × 14.2 tonnes of CO₂ per resident per year = 68.16 million tonnes of CO₂ annually
Thus, Alberta’s gross annual CO₂ emissions are approximately 68.16 million tonnes.
Alberta’s Carbon Sequestration Capacity
Net-zero programs often overlook natural carbon sinks, failing to recognize the substantial role that Alberta’s ecosystems play in absorbing carbon dioxide. These programs apply a one-size-fits-all approach, disregarding the unique contributions of forests, wetlands, peatlands, and agricultural lands in mitigating CO₂ emissions.
Alberta’s ecosystems naturally absorb vast amounts of CO₂, far exceeding the province’s annual emissions. The estimated carbon sequestration by ecosystem type is as follows:
Forests – Alberta’s boreal forests cover approximately 38 million hectares, absorbing an estimated 10 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually, totaling 380 million tonnes of CO₂ absorbed each year. .8
Wetlands – Wetlands span about 14.36 million hectares, sequestering roughly 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually, totaling 25.8 million tonnes of CO₂ absorbed annually.9
Peatlands – Alberta’s peatlands cover approximately 5.8 million hectares, with long-term carbon storage through slow organic accumulation. These ecosystems are estimated to store hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon over centuries. 10
Agricultural Lands and Grasslands – Alberta’s agricultural soils and grasslands cover approximately 20 million hectares, contributing to carbon sequestration through soil health practices and vegetation cover, with an estimated 15 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually, totaling 300 million tonnes of CO₂ absorbed annually. 11
Alberta is a net carbon sink, absorbing approximately 637.64 million tonnes more CO₂ than it emits each year. This substantial carbon sequestration capacity highlights the misalignment between costly net-zero policies and Alberta's existing environmental strengths.
Redirecting Resources to Local Priorities
Given Alberta’s net-negative carbon status, programs focused on net-zero targets divert resources away from urgent local priorities under municipal jurisdiction that Canadians have identified as requiring immediate attention and relief, including:
Affordable Housing – Addressing rising costs and availability challenges to ensure safe, accessible housing for all residents.
Energy Security – Ensuring affordable, reliable energy to support households, businesses, and community infrastructure.
Economic Development – Promoting job creation and local industry growth to sustain vibrant and resilient communities.
Public Safety and Community Programs – Enhancing emergency preparedness, policing, fire services, and mental health supports.
Government Accountability – Strengthening transparency and fiscal responsibility to restore public trust and confidence in decision-making.
Redirecting resources toward these pressing issues better serves residents and ensures municipal governments address local priorities without imposing costly net-zero policies that fail to reflect Alberta's natural carbon advantage.
Recommendations
Pause and Reevaluate PCP Participation:
Conduct a comprehensive review of PCP and related climate plans.
Hold public consultations to assess alignment with community priorities.
Ensure Transparency and Accountability:
Disclose all costs associated with PCP participation.
Perform a financial audit of climate spending.
Withdraw from the PCP Program:
Immediately exit the PCP program and halt related climate action plans.
Redirect funds to locally driven environmental initiatives and community priorities.
Prioritize Practical Environmental Stewardship:
Focus on protecting Alberta’s natural carbon sinks (forests, wetlands, peatlands, grasslands).
Invest in pollution prevention, water management, and disaster resilience infrastructure.
Address Immediate Municipal Priorities:
Affordable Housing: Expand affordable housing options.
Energy Security: Ensure access to reliable, affordable energy.
Economic Development: Support local industries and job creation.
Public Safety: Strengthen emergency services and community programs.
Conclusion
Alberta's municipalities have no legal obligation to participate in costly climate programs like the PCP. Local governments should prioritize community needs, fiscal responsibility, and practical environmental solutions over externally driven net-zero policies.
We respectfully request the councils to reevaluate climate policies, prioritize transparency, and safeguard the interests of its residents.
Sincerely,
Maggie Braun, KICLEI Canada, info@kiclei.ca
Concerned Residents and Stakeholders of Alberta
References
Municipal Government Act (MGA), RSA 2000, c M-26. Government of Alberta. Available at: https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/m26.pdf
Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Government of Canada. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/climate-change/net-zero-emissions-2050.html
Emissions Management and Climate Resilience Act (EMCRA), SA 2003, c E-7.8. Government of Alberta. Available at: https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/e07p8.pdf
Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation. Government of Alberta. Available at: https://www.alberta.ca/technology-innovation-and-emissions-reduction-regulation.aspx
Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program Disclaimer. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. Available at:
https://www.pcp-ppc.ca/
Cost Breakdown for Municipalities Participating in the PCP Program and Climate Action Plans. KICLEI Canada. Available at: https://kiclei.substack.com/p/cost-breakdown-for-municipalities
Statistics Canada. Alberta’s Estimated Population (2024). Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/
Alberta’s Forest Coverage. Alberta Wilderness Association – Boreal Forest. Alberta’s Boreal Forest covers approximately 381,046 square kilometres (38 million hectares). Available at: https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/forests/boreal-forest/
Alberta’s Wetlands. Alberta Wilderness Association – Wetlands. Wetlands cover approximately 143,628 square kilometres (14.36 million hectares). Available at: https://albertawilderness.ca/wetlands-for-a-sustainable-environment/
Alberta’s Peatlands. Government of Alberta – Peatland Resource. Peatlands cover approximately 58,000 km² (5.8 million hectares). Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/a3866d2b-d28c-40fb-ac84-eec270e936d0
Alberta’s Agricultural Lands and Grasslands. Alberta Wilderness Association – Grasslands. Alberta’s Grasslands Natural Region covers approximately 20 million hectares. Available at: https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/areas-of-concern/majorville/
𝗞𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺
Tools and resources to help local councils prioritize local autonomy over global sustainable development programs.
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How to Take Action with KICLEI Canada
KICLEI Canada is dedicated to empowering communities to prioritize local solutions over global mandates. You can make a meaningful impact by getting involved in various ways. Here’s how you can take action and support our mission:
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Thank you Maggie Braun et al for you tenacity and helping with our watersheddebacle.ca cause.
Courageous and scientifically correct information, very professional, I am proud to be a member of Kicklei, keep up your fabulous work!