City of Edmonton Strategic Approach to Environmental Management Office of the Environment

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Presentation Outline City’s Approach to Environmental Management Environmental Strategic Plan City’s Environmental Performance

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Approach to Environmental Management Corporate Mission Statement “The City of Edmonton is committed to conscientious and responsible environmental management, practices and stewardship in all aspects of its corporate activities.”

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Approach to Environmental Management Departmental Responsibility Environmental responsibility remains with operating areas Reliance on interdepartmental co-operation, sharing of expertise and responsibilities

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Approach to Environmental Management Office of the Environment Mandate Office of the Environment is a “small” corporate entity Currency in broader environmental issues A focal point for environmental information & provide status reports Develop/facilitate/monitor environmental goals & policies

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan Environmental Vision Statement “Edmontonians sustain and enhance their environment for present and future citizens, in harmony with the global community.”

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan Mandate & Purpose Mandate: Plan Edmonton includes, as a priority, “Protection of the Natural Environment” Purpose: Provide long-term direction through policies and programs to maintain and enhance the natural environment

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan Developed In Three Parts Part 1: Policy Document … Approved by Council in 1999 Part 2: Environmental Strategic Plan Implementation … “Reports on Environmental Performance” Part 3: State of the Environment Reporting … “Edmonton’s Environment: A Snapshot 2002”

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan What Is It? Defines overall strategic direction for wide- ranging environmental issues areas Provides a focus for environmental improvement in Edmonton Long term in nature... but also addresses short and medium term issues Plan is developed in concert with stakeholders

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan Linkage To Other Plans –Plan Edmonton –Drainage Master Plan –Transportation Master Plan –Waste Management Strategic Plan –Infrastructure Strategy –Long Range Financial Plan –Corporate Business Plan

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan 19 Environmental Topics ENVIRONMENTALRECEPTORS Drinking Water Drinking Water Surface Water Surface Water Indoor Air Indoor Air Ambient Air Ambient Air Ozone Layer Ozone Layer CONSERVATION Climate Change Climate Change Natural Heritage Natural Heritage Sustainable Urban Form Sustainable Urban Form Agricultural Lands Agricultural Lands Waste Management Waste Management Energy Management Energy Management STRESSORS Industrial Releases Industrial Releases Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Contaminated Lands Contaminated Lands Pesticides Pesticides Noise Noise Light Pollution Light Pollution Electric & Magnetic Electric & Magnetic Fields Fields Acid Rain Acid Rain

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Environmental Strategic Plan Plan Details For Each Topic topic overview current approach and approved policy strategic direction objective key strategies recommended level of action

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Strategic Directions for Topic Areas Climate Change - Reduce community wide greenhouse gas emissions. Natural Heritage - Protect natural heritage. Sustainable Urban Form - Plan for an urban form that is environmentally and fiscally sustainable in the long term. Agricultural Lands - Continue to preserve agricultural lands in balance with other land uses. Waste Management - Improve waste management practices. Energy Management - Improve energy efficiency.

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Strategic Directions for Topic Areas Drinking Water - Maintain a safe and reliable potable water supply. Surface Water - Improve surface water quality. Indoor Air - Improve indoor air quality. Ambient Air - Maintain and improve ambient air quality. Ozone Layer - Reduce emissions of ozone depleting substance from City operations.

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Strategic Directions for Topic Areas Industrial Releases - Continue to prevent and mitigate harmful industrial releases. Hazardous Material - Continue to reduce exposure to hazardous materials. Contaminated Lands - Reduce land contamination. Pesticides - Continue to minimize exposure to pesticides.

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Strategic Directions for Topic Areas Noise - Continue to mitigate and reduce exposure to excessive noise. Light Pollution - Monitor and assess the situation regarding light pollution. Electric & Magnetic Fields - Monitor and assess the situation regarding electric & magnetic fields. Acid Rain - Monitor and assess the situation regarding acid deposition.

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon City’s Environmental Performance Implementing the Plan Plan - Strategic Plan Policy Do - Reports on Environmental Performance Measure - State of the Environment Report Continuous Improvement

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Provides timely updates of progress in the 19 topic areas to City Council Development of performance measures Identifies emerging issues Identifies resource requirements to achieve strategic direction City’s Environmental Performance Reporting on Environmental Performance

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Provides a snapshot of the state of the environment in Edmonton Organized on the basis of the 19 topic areas Identifies areas where we are doing well and also where more effort is required City’s Environmental Performance State of the Environment Reporting (the big picture)

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon City’s Environmental Performance Highlights of Environmental Leadership Waste Management –Recycling, composting, hazardous materials Surface Water –BNR, UV disinfection, treated water reuse, constructed wetlands Drinking Water (EPCOR) –UV disinfection, watershed protection

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon City’s Environmental Performance Highlights of Environmental Leadership Climate Change –CO 2 RE Initiative, City Operations Plan Natural Heritage –Natural Areas Policy, Conservation Coordinator Sustainable Urban Form –‘Smart Choices’ initiative, High Speed Transit Corridors

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon City’s Environmental Performance Highlights of Environmental Leadership Ambient Air – Participate in Edmonton Air Shed, Vehicle Emissions Testing Clinics, Anti-Idling Campaign Pesticides – Reduction through IPM, public awareness campaign planning

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Summary A great variety and number of environmental issues for municipalities Environment pillar in ‘Quality of Life’ Quality of Life Environment EconomicSocial

October 21, 2003APEGGA District Luncheon Closing Comments Great challenges for all of us in moving to a sustainable society All orders of government, institutions, business, industry and individuals must work together to achieve this Edmonton’s Environmental Strategic Plan provides a good framework to move our community in this direction

City of Edmonton Strategic Approach to Environmental Management Mark Brostrom, Senior Environmental Engineer Office of the Environment, City of Edmonton Phone (780) Web Site: