Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions

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Applications for the 2023-2024 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions are now closed. 



An icon of a hand holding a leaf. Text says Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions.

The City of Kingston is seeking local neighbourhood leaders to engage with residents on local environmental issues and inspire climate action. The Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions will inspire, motivate, and encourage other residents to undertake community-focused actions to support the City’s Climate Leadership Plan and reach the City’s target of carbon neutral by 2040.

Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions

Participants will receive training (in-person or virtual) through a series of webinars on climate change science, climate change communications, and climate action in Kingston. After the training, participants will receive a Neighborhood Climate Action Toolkit to help them engage their neighbours in discussions about climate change and develop innovative neighbourhood-focused climate action projects. The aim of the Toolkit is to identify specific Kingston Climate Leadership Plan goals the neighbourhood should target and develop a plan to reach these goals.

Climate Action Champions are required to commit at least 50 hours per year (4-5 hours per month) toward climate outreach, project development and execution.

The City of Kingston’s program will require participants to present their project’s deliverables, needed materials, their project evaluation plan, and a budget before receiving funding and entering into a funding agreement with the City. Participants will be eligible to receive a maximum of $2,000 per project.

Participants will meet with City staff monthly to discuss their neighbourhood projects and receive feedback and support.

As a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion, you will:

  • Communicate and educate residents about environmental and climate-related topics and issues. Lead constructive and interesting conversations about the challenges of climate change and potential solutions.
  • Collaborate with residents to develop neighbourhood-focused climate action projects that account for the diverse values and needs of the community.
  • Connect and inspire a broader group of neighbourhood residents to participate in climate action to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Contribute to advancing the City’s Climate Leadership Plan and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our city.

Program Eligibility

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Live in Kingston
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Able to commit at least 4 to 5 hours per month to climate outreach and attend monthly meetings with City staff
  • Able to work as part of a team and have a strong leadership capacity
  • Currently engaged in climate action work; or
  • Engaged in neighbourhood or local community work; or
  • a recent graduate interested in climate action
  • Existing connections with neighbourhood networks/groups are an asset
  • Fluency in a non-English language is an asset

Applications from community leaders and residents from communities experiencing social, economic and other barriers, including people of colour, newcomers, LGBTQ2S+ persons, women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities / disabled, will be given priority.

An icon of a hand holding a leaf. Text says Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions.

The City of Kingston is seeking local neighbourhood leaders to engage with residents on local environmental issues and inspire climate action. The Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions will inspire, motivate, and encourage other residents to undertake community-focused actions to support the City’s Climate Leadership Plan and reach the City’s target of carbon neutral by 2040.

Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions

Participants will receive training (in-person or virtual) through a series of webinars on climate change science, climate change communications, and climate action in Kingston. After the training, participants will receive a Neighborhood Climate Action Toolkit to help them engage their neighbours in discussions about climate change and develop innovative neighbourhood-focused climate action projects. The aim of the Toolkit is to identify specific Kingston Climate Leadership Plan goals the neighbourhood should target and develop a plan to reach these goals.

Climate Action Champions are required to commit at least 50 hours per year (4-5 hours per month) toward climate outreach, project development and execution.

The City of Kingston’s program will require participants to present their project’s deliverables, needed materials, their project evaluation plan, and a budget before receiving funding and entering into a funding agreement with the City. Participants will be eligible to receive a maximum of $2,000 per project.

Participants will meet with City staff monthly to discuss their neighbourhood projects and receive feedback and support.

As a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion, you will:

  • Communicate and educate residents about environmental and climate-related topics and issues. Lead constructive and interesting conversations about the challenges of climate change and potential solutions.
  • Collaborate with residents to develop neighbourhood-focused climate action projects that account for the diverse values and needs of the community.
  • Connect and inspire a broader group of neighbourhood residents to participate in climate action to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Contribute to advancing the City’s Climate Leadership Plan and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our city.

Program Eligibility

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Live in Kingston
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Able to commit at least 4 to 5 hours per month to climate outreach and attend monthly meetings with City staff
  • Able to work as part of a team and have a strong leadership capacity
  • Currently engaged in climate action work; or
  • Engaged in neighbourhood or local community work; or
  • a recent graduate interested in climate action
  • Existing connections with neighbourhood networks/groups are an asset
  • Fluency in a non-English language is an asset

Applications from community leaders and residents from communities experiencing social, economic and other barriers, including people of colour, newcomers, LGBTQ2S+ persons, women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities / disabled, will be given priority.


Applications for the 2023-2024 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions are now closed. 



  • Meet the 2023 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions

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    In the Climate Leadership Plan, the City of Kingston worked with residents and organizations in the Kingston community to identify opportunities for climate action, at the community level, that will help us move closer to our goal of carbon neutrality by 2040.

    One of those actions was the creation of the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions, a program designed to empower residents to inspire their friends and neighbourhoods to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance local climate action.

    Meet your champions

    The 2023 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions led 14 incredible projects to inspire their neighbours and reduce community greenhouse gas emissions.

    • Jennie improved local biodiversity by creating gardens with native species to support pollinators.
    • Brian provided neighbours with trees, shared valuable knowledge and helped with planting to enhance the City's tree canopy.
    • Mary-Jean transformed traditional lawns into drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly and low-maintenance gardens.
    • Mark worked with neighbours to discuss ways to reduce their carbon footprint, focusing on deep energy retrofits in their homes.
    • Nathan established a vibrant community pollinator garden with diverse native flowering species to teach neighbours about pollinator gardens, seed harvesting and winter sowing techniques. 
    • Cherilyn established a new edible community garden in Kingston's west end! With 16 plots that help residents access fresh and locally grown food, Cherilyn's project promotes sustainability and a sense of community through shared gardening experiences. 
    • Gavin launched the Neighbourhood Retrofit DIY Squad (NERDS) project in Kingscourt-Rideau, empowering residents to enhance their home energy efficiency and encouraging the installation of heat pumps as an alternative to natural gas heating.
    • Rohit created a captivating moss display outside of City Hall, showcasing the benefits and beauty of natural air filtration and carbon sequestration through moss.
    • Sarah collaborated with local farmers' markets to encourage residents to support the local economy by purchasing locally sourced foods and goods to foster community connections and sustainable consumption.
    • Reanna created the Kids Climate ActionFest in Sydenham, providing school-aged children with inspiring tools and activities to empower youth to become active participants in climate action from an early age.
    • Megan promoted alternative transportation options and enhanced accessibility with an active transportation and accessibility map for King's Town. This resource outlined alternative and safe routes to help you navigate the city without relying solely on motor vehicles.
    • Jessica collaborated with Maple Elementary and St. Martha's Elementary schools to empower students to create positive change in their community through climate action initiatives that nurtured their understanding of environmental issues and created future champions of sustainability. 
    • Two champions also worked with SLC and Queen's University on climate action initiatives.
      • Jadon: At St. Lawrence College, the Climate Leadership Program empowered students with essential project management skills and an understanding of climate action while exploring climate-related challenges through the lens of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The program cultivates future leaders who can drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle climate issues. 
      • Emily: Queen's University hosted the Sustainability Hub, an immersive learning experience promoting a circular economy. The hub encouraged individuals to adopt sustainable consumption practices by emphasizing the importance of repairing, reusing, and recycling belongings rather than constantly buying new items. Through engaging exhibits and workshops, students and the wider community gained a deeper understanding of the environmental impact of their choices. They learned practical ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and foster a more sustainable future. 
  • About the Climate Leadership Plan

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    What is the Climate Leadership Plan?

    The Climate Leadership Plan (CLP) provides a roadmap for the City and community to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2040. The CLP also provides solutions that can stimulate the economy, such as investments in infrastructure, building retrofits, electric mobility, and new energy technologies, providing opportunities and benefits for the residents of Kingston. 

    Reaching carbon neutrality by 2040 requires leadership from the City and active participation from the community. Reducing GHG emissions will require substantial changes in how we live, work, build, travel and more. That’s why we need strong and effective partnerships with all organizations in Kingston that have a key role in achieving the City’s targets.

    On July 12, 2022, Council received Report-EITP-22-007 which outlined the strategic engagement on the implementation of the Climate Leadership Plan. One component of the community engagement strategy is the development and implementation of a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program.