Becoming a More Climate-Resilient City
In a time where the impact of climate change looms larger than ever, it is imperative that we collectively step up to address this global challenge.
For the seventh consecutive year, over 1,000 Edmonton residents participated in the annual Climate Change and Energy Perception survey, expressing growing awareness of climate change.
The survey revealed that two-thirds of Edmontonians recognize economic opportunities in the city’s transition toward becoming a net-zero greenhouse gas emitter. Moreover, nearly three-quarters of respondents expressed concern about climate change, advocating for immediate action and attributing the issue primarily to human activities.
Edmonton is not only recognizing the urgency of the situation, but is also taking bold strides in leading the way towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
At a recent Executive Committee meeting, we reflected on our ongoing efforts and discussed what comes next. We know that the City does not have the fiscal capacity, nor the policy and regulatory levers, to transition Edmonton to a net-zero community on its own initiative. Energy transition will be a decades-long, multi-sectoral effort that needs to unlock an extremely significant amount of funding and support from other sectors and orders of government.
That said, Edmonton has been recognized as a municipal leader on climate action and we are being strategic and tactical about maximizing our efforts through land use and targeted City investments. I am proud to say that we have achieved many significant milestones on our journey toward a greener and more sustainable future for our city and these are some of the highlights.
What We’ve Accomplished:
Approval of the Zoning Bylaw Renewal: This is one of the most effective policy levers in a city’s policy toolbox to advance compact urban form, enable public and active transportation to become more viable, and to reduce the GHG emissions from buildings and transportation.
Residential Solar Rebates: Since 2019, we’ve funneled $6 million into rebates to support Edmontonians in adopting solar energy. This has resulted in 1,927 residential installations and the generation of over 16 Megawatts of clean energy. Beyond environmental benefits, these initiatives put money back into residents’ pockets through energy savings.
Empowering Lower-Income Households: The City’s commitment to the Alberta EcoTrust Home Upgrade Program, with a $800,000 funding contribution, aims to educate and upgrade up to 100 lower-income households by 2024, helping them reduce energy costs and fostering inclusivity in our green efforts.
Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP): Pilot phase of the program led to rapid uptake of the CEIP program by40 homeowners and one commercial building owner to make deep retrofits investments that will be slowly paid back through their property taxes. The permanent expanded program will start in spring of 2024.
Installation of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) on City facilities and Community Leagues: 23 community leagues have installed solar PV systems for a total capacity of 390 kilowatts. 12 City facilities have solar PV with a total installed capacity of 3.4 MW. One of the facilities with solar PV is the Expo, which is now home to the largest rooftop solar array in the country.
LED Streetlights: An impressive 80% of our streetlights have been transformed into energy-efficient LED versions. This not only reduces energy consumption but also enhances safety and visibility across our city.
Public Transit Triumph: Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has successfully restored bus ridership to pre-pandemic levels. In a national first, we’re pioneering the adoption of electric buses with 60 already in our fleet, and we’re testing two hydrogen buses right here in Alberta.
Innovative Hydrogen Integration: A groundbreaking pilot project will introduce hydrogen as an additional fuel source in four city vehicles, including two City transit buses and two waste collection trucks. This initiative sets a promising precedent for sustainable transportation solutions.
Active Transportation Expansion: Over the past four years, our Neighborhood Renewal and Active Transportation projects have added 9 kilometers of bike lanes, connected 34 kilometers of missing sidewalk links, and expanded shared pathways by over 34 kilometers. These projects encourage green and healthy transportation alternatives.
Reducing Single-Use Items: The City of Edmonton’s Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw, effective from July 1, 2023, is a testament to our commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
Waste Collection Innovation: We are investing in the upgrade of the Clover Bar Landfill gas collection system and the construction of a landfill gas upgrader facility, set to be operational in 2024. This facility will convert landfill gas into renewable natural gas, significantly curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Expanding the Urban Canopy: Over the past two years, we’ve added 5,164 new boulevard and open space trees and replaced 4,659 others. Additionally, we’ve completed 33 hectares of naturalization, planting 119,987 tree seedlings, 118,089 shrubs, and 13,321 wildflowers, revitalizing our urban environment.
Low Impact Development (LID) Projects: Our partnership with EPCOR is resulting in over $25 million worth of LID projects, with completion slated for the end of 2023.
Receiving Industry Recognition: Edmonton has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of 119 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, despite the pressures of a challenging global economic situation.
What’s on the Horizon:
City Facility Upgrades: We will continue to invest in energy-saving upgrades and solar PV for city facilities, further reducing utility costs and emissions.
Emissions-Neutral Fleet: We are initiating a groundbreaking effort to make our city fleet and equipment emissions-neutral.
District Energy Strategy: The implementation of the District Energy Strategy will enable efficient sharing of energy between buildings, free up more occupiable space within the buildings, and pave the way for a transition to more sustainable energy sources.
Expanded Transit Service: With a commitment to increasing transit service, we aim to encourage even more residents to choose sustainable and affordable transportation options.
Accelerated Active Transportation: Our commitment to expanding the active transportation network will further reduce emissions and promote a healthier and more sustainable way of getting around.
Dedicated Funds for Community Action: We are dedicating funds to support community-led climate initiatives, empowering residents to take action at the grassroots level.
Climate Planning and Development Framework: We will be developing the Climate Resilience Planning and Development Framework which will integrate energy transition and climate adaptation throughout the planning continuum and in the Zoning Bylaw as part of the post Zoning Bylaw Renewal Work Plan. It will include but not limited to solar and electric vehicle readiness, in alignment with our climate-related strategies.
Climate change affects us all, and the time to act is now. Edmonton’s approach helps us be holistic with our climate action investments. This means that we are advancing climate resilience AND affordability, livability, creating green jobs and building up our local economy at the same time.
I want to thank City administration, our stakeholder and government partners, and all Edmontonians for their continued support in our shared journey toward a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable city.
