Open Letter to ICLEI Canada: Request for Information on ICLEI's Origin, Program Implementation, and Funding Sources
Canadians would like to know: Who is ICLEI?
Subject: Open Letter: Request for Information on ICLEI's Foundational Documents, Program Implementation, and Funding Sources
Dear ICLEI Canada Offices,
I am writing this open letter to all ICLEI offices in Canada to request detailed information regarding ICLEI's foundational documents, program implementation processes, and funding sources. After reviewing ICLEI’s website, I could not find the specific information outlined below and hope you can provide clarity on these matters.
1. Foundational and Planning Documents
Copies of ICLEI's founding documents from 1990, including the charter or articles of incorporation.
Access to international planning documents dating back to 1990.
Clarification on ICLEI's participation in the 1990-1992 Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for drafting Agenda 21. According to FCM documents, they participated. Did ICLEI? If so, what role did the organization play?
2. Alignment of ICLEI Canada with International Programs
Information on how ICLEI Canada aligns its operations with ICLEI’s international programs.
Documentation outlining this alignment and any specific adaptations for Canadian operations.
3. Implementation of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program
Insights into why so many local councillors, whose councils have adopted the FCM ICLEI PCP program, may be unfamiliar with ICLEI as an organization and its role in the program. How is ICLEI's involvement communicated to councils during program adoption?
Clarification on whether the PCP program is primarily administered through municipal staff.
Details on training provided to municipal staff for implementing ICLEI programs.
Information on collaborations with post-secondary institutions for training in ICLEI program implementation, if any. If such collaborations exist, which professions receive this training (e.g., planners, CAOs, clerks, sustainability coordinators)?
4. Software Tools and Data Management
A list of software tools utilized by ICLEI for emissions data management.
Does ICLEI incorporate smart city technology in its programs? If so, what types of smart city technology are used, and for what purposes?
Clarification on whether baseline emission data is input into ICLEI software.
A comprehensive list of feedback provided by ICLEI and /or ICLEI software, which is used to develop and/or update climate action plans.
Do program recommendations include items such as the following, and if so, can ICLEI provide the full range of potential program recommendations generated through its tools?
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure: Recommendations for installing EV charging stations.
Fleet Upgrades: Proposals to transition municipal fleets to electric or hybrid vehicles.
Active Transportation Infrastructure: Guidance on developing infrastructure for cycling, walking, and other non-motorized transportation modes, including bike lanes, pedestrian pathways, and multi-modal transit hubs.
Green Building Standards: Provide guidance on implementing sustainability frameworks for new buildings and major renovations, including energy efficiency criteria, sustainable materials, renewable energy integration, and certifications like LEED or Passive House standards.
Retrofits: Offer recommendations for upgrading existing buildings with energy-efficient solutions such as improved insulation, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting, and renewable energy installations to align with modern sustainability goals.
Renewable Energy Installations: Suggestions for adopting solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy technologies on municipal buildings and properties.
Carbon Capture Plants: Proposals for establishing facilities or integrating technologies designed to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from industrial or municipal operations.
Sustainable Waste Management: Recommendations for composting programs, landfill gas capture systems, waste diversion strategies, and circular economic models.
Urban Forest Programs: Proposals for increasing green spaces, tree planting, or adopting nature-based solutions to improve carbon sequestration.
15-Minute Cities: Suggestions for urban planning strategies to create mixed-use, compact neighborhoods where essential services and amenities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
Smart Cities: Recommendations for integrating digital technologies and data-driven solutions to optimize municipal operations, improve energy efficiency, and enhance sustainability outcomes.
5. Role in Evaluating and Endorsing Suppliers
What role does ICLEI play in evaluating or endorsing suppliers for program implementation on platforms like WIPO GREEN?
Does ICLEI validate or approve the technologies and suppliers listed on such platforms before directing municipalities to them?
6. Funding Sources
Disclosure of the amount of funding ICLEI Canada receives from Canadian taxpayers.
Information on corporate sponsors, including their identities and contribution amounts.
Details on any funding received from the United Nations or similar international organizations.
7. Questions on Program Costs and Liability
Why is the PCP program stated as "free" in the joining resolution, with no mention of the potential costs associated with completing the program's five milestones?
Why does the joining resolution not include a disclaimer that the FCM, ICLEI, and the Government of Canada have waived liability for the PCP program? How is this important information communicated to municipalities prior to adoption?
Understanding these aspects is crucial for fostering transparency among the Canadian populace directly impacted by these programs, especially as many councils have adopted your program without their councillors being aware of ICLEI or its operations. I appreciate your assistance in providing the requested information or directing me to appropriate resources.
This letter has also been sent to all participating municipal councils, provincial and federal representatives, and the Canadian Senate. Additionally, it has been issued as a press release to the media. Canadians are asking: Who is ICLEI?
Please let me know if further clarification is required. I look forward to your response and hope this open letter will encourage an ongoing and transparent dialogue.
Kind regards,
Maggie Braun
info@kiclei.ca
ICLEI Canada Main Office (Toronto)
Suite 204
401 Richmond St. W
Toronto, ON
M5V 3A8
Email: iclei-canada@iclei.org
ICLEI British Columbia Office (Victoria)
City Hall – Engineering and Public Works
1 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC
V8W 1P6
Email: bc.office@iclei.org
ICLEI Quebec Office (Montreal)
155 rue Notre-Dame Est
Bâtiment Annexe – 1er étage
Montréal, QC
H2Y 1C6
Email: bureau.quebec@iclei.org
At this time, would it be of benefit to have many of us send this to ICLEI Canada Offices, with a cc to our local mayor and town councils in Little Towns Anywhere Canada?
Great work, Maggie. Getting this information to folk is import (anyway we can) as it's increasingly obvious we're being ignoring. They are hoping that we'll go away, and that the rest of the sleepy heads don't wake up. But the more everyday people see they're refusing to address questioning of the agenda, the more obvious it is the something is not right. A lot of people are questioning the climate narrative now (a recent CBC pole even showed this), so we must continue to keep the pressure on. I'm having some interesting conversations about UNDRIP at the moment too, since you asked about this. Best for now, D