Low-Carbon Cities Canada (LC3)
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund is part of the LC3 network, Low Carbon Cities Canada.
A Canada-wide network
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund is a member of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, which helps cities and communities achieve their carbon reduction potential. This initiative is implemented in partnership by seven local centres and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Funded by an endowment from the Government of Canada through FCM, the LC3 network is part of a national investment in climate action to accelerate urban climate solutions and help Canada achieve its national climate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
The strength of our network
The LC3 network was created to accelerate peer-to-peer learning, support the scaling of proven low-carbon initiatives across regions, and streamline national reporting and communications. Serving as the network’s secretariat, the national office—hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF)—also facilitates collaboration and generates economies of scale for shared services, enhancing the impact of local climate actions nationwide.
The services of the national office include:
- Strengthen local centres by sharing lessons learned, knowledge, and experience with other organizations sharing the same mandate;
- Support centre accountability by liaising with the federal government for goal tracking and reporting, and by sharing due diligence and impact measurement resources;
- Maximize resources by acting as a focal point for sharing human, financial and intellectual resources;
- Mobilize co-financing to promote economies of scale on pan-Canadian initiatives.
What is their theory of change?
LC3’s Theory of Change (ToC) illustrates the impact the LC3 Network aims to achieve, the process through which they intend to work towards that impact, and the underlying assumptions. The ToC clarifies LC3’s unique role within a broader ecosystem of stakeholders, change agents, and the communities it serves, and identifies how these stakeholders have a role to play to achieve LC3’s vision for Canadian communities.
LC3 network centres
LC3 centers are located in Canada’s largest urban areas, representing 50% of the country’s population.
01.
Alberta – Alberta Ecotrust’s Climate Innovation Fund, Calgary and Edmonton, AB
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation is a charity that leads and catalyzes environmental and climate action projects that enhance the well-being of Alberta’s communities. It works collaboratively with diverse partners to deliver, fund, and enable innovative initiatives that address pressing environmental challenges in the province.
02.
Nova Scotia – Halifax Climate Investment Innovation and Impact Fund (HCi3), Halifax, NS
The Halifax Climate Investment, Innovation and Impact (HCi3) Fund seeks to invest in a net-zero Halifax/Kjipuktuk for everyone as part of Canada’s goal to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. HCi3 works with partners to support meaningful climate solutions while also promoting equity, reconciliation and shared benefits for local communities.
03.
British Columbia – Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC), Metro Vancouver, BC
Seeded by a $21.7 million federal endowment, the Zero Emission Innovation Centre (ZEIC) is a purpose-built charitable organization dedicated to market transformation and enabling zero carbon communities and economies across the region and province.
04.
Ontario – Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF), Ottawa, ON
OCAF formed in 2021 with a challenging mission: to help bring Ottawa’s carbon pollution to net-zero by 2050. Meeting that target will also make homes, businesses, natural spaces, and infrastructure more resilient to the damage we can expect as climate change accelerates.
05.
Ontario – The Atmospheric Fund (TAF), Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, ON
TAF is a regional climate agency that invests in low-carbon solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and supports their large-scale implementation. With extensive experience, the organization collaborates with stakeholders in the private, public, and non-profit sectors to advance innovative opportunities for reducing carbon emissions.
06.
Quebec – Greater Montreal Climate Fund, Greater Montreal Region, QC
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund is a catalyst for climate solutions. Its mission is to mobilize capital from the public, private and philanthropic sectors around a single objective: to accelerate the decarbonization of the Greater Montreal’s 82 municipalities. It supports innovation and encourages risk-taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the most polluting industries, such as transportation, buildings and energy.
Quotes
Quotes from LC3 network members
The LC3 Network speeds up the adoption of climate solutions tailored to local needs and priorities. Supported by peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, each LC3 Centre draws on a diverse set of Pan-Canadian expertise that is already bringing the best ideas to scale across Canadian cities.
Oscar Espinosa
Project Director, Low Carbon Cities Canada | Green Municipal Fund
As an LC3 Network member, the GMCF’s local work has impact that goes well beyond the Montreal region, influencing thinking and action nation-wide. In turn, the Fond gets access to unique expertise and resources that drive meaningful change at the local level.
Mary Pickering
Senior Advisor at Low Carbon Cities Canada