Press releases
04 / 16 / 2026
The IRIU and the Greater Montreal Climate Fund are supporting municipal climate leadership
Montreal, April 16, 2026 – In conjunction with the fifth Montreal Climate Summit, the institut de la résilience et de l’innovation urbaine (IRIU) and the Greater Montreal Climate Fund are announcing the launch of a new generation of territorial tools powered by artificial intelligence to support municipalities in Greater Montreal in making more informed and transparent decisions regarding decarbonization and climate change adaptation.
Following the successful launch of its Federated Data Hub (PDFI)—a digital infrastructure that facilitates data sharing among climate stakeholders—the IRIU is stepping up its efforts this spring. Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Greater Montreal Climate Fund, the Institute will strengthen its presence on the ground by developing three prototypes of cutting-edge technological tools that will enable three partner cities to:
- Mapping local climate vulnerabilities;
- Accurately tracking emissions from urban mobility;
- Identifying energy-efficiency renovations with the greatest environmental impact.
To facilitate adoption across the entire municipal ecosystem, the IRIU will make the technical documentation and integration templates publicly available once the pilot phase is complete. Ultimately, the proposed solution aims to empower municipal councils, community organizations, and their partners to advance climate targets and protect living environments, in accordance with the principle of territorial equity. It will also help strengthen municipal accountability, transparency, and responsibility, directly benefiting citizens.
Toward ethical, transparent, and sovereign governance of climate data
Ethics, sobriety and digital sovereignty are other fundamental principles guiding the development of the PDFI. Thanks to an agreement between the IRIU and OVHcloud, the initiative will promote the responsible, secure, and efficient use of climate data, supported by a high-performance technological environment that includes, in particular, computing infrastructure hosted locally in the Greater Montreal area, in Beauharnois.
Cities on the front lines
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund and the IRIU reaffirm their commitment to supporting the entire Greater Montreal region in a just and equitable ecological transition, and highlight the leading role that local governments play in the fight against climate change. Cities are on the front lines when it comes to citizens’ quality of life: they plan land use, develop sustainable mobility, manage infrastructure, and protect natural environments. Their ability to take action depends on access to reliable data and modern tools, supported by technical and financial innovation. This is precisely the goal of this strategic collaboration between the IRIU and the Greater Montreal Climate Fund.
Much more than just an experimental project, this initiative embodies an ambitious vision: to make the municipalities of Greater Montreal an international benchmark for ethical data governance, cross-sectoral engagement, and coordinated local action in support of the low-carbon transition. This ambition aligns perfectly with the theme of this Summit: Montreal, North America’s Climate Metropolis.
PDFI is a fundamental building block for strengthening the capacity of Greater Montreal municipalities to address climate change. By facilitating the sharing and use of data across the region, we are creating the conditions necessary to deploy artificial intelligence tools that are useful, responsible, and directly grounded in local realities.
François William Croteau
President and CEO of IRIU
The ecological transition relies on collective action, grounded in regional equity and driven by municipalities—both large and small—that have the resources to achieve their goals. We are proud to support the IRIU and to contribute to more informed and transparent decision-making that will accelerate progress toward the climate goals of Greater Montreal’s cities.
Vincent Moreau
Executive Director of the Greater Montreal Climate Fund
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About the Greater Montreal Climate Fund
The Greater Montreal Climate Fund is a charitable organization that catalyzes public, private and philanthropic capital to support decarbonization projects in the Greater Montreal area, including Aboriginal communities. It awards grants, sets up programs and makes investments to encourage innovative initiatives with strong potential for scale-up in sustainable mobility, buildings, energy and capacity building. The Greater Montreal Climate Fund is part of the Low-Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network.
About the Institut de la résilience et de l’innovation urbaine
The Institut de la résilience et de l’innovation urbaine supports local governments and local community stakeholders in enhancing their organizational capacity to respond to various crises. We offer services in strategic planning, the development of decision-support tools and artificial intelligence, as well as ethical, sovereign, and cost-effective data governance.
Contact
Noémie Dubuc
Communications Manager
Greater Montreal Climate Fund
514 893-7426
ndubuc@fondsclimat.com
