Edmonton, Alberta: “Greener as We Grow” Citywide Goal

Policy Title: The “Greener As We Grow” Big City Move
Year Adopted: 2020
City: Edmonton, Alberta
Citation: Greener As We Grow Storymap

Description:

Like many other state capitals in Canada, Edmonton has a detailed plan to increase its canopy coverage over the next few decades. Despite its conservative leanings regarding private bylaws and restrictions, the city is determined to engage with its citizenry and encourage tree protection. 

“Greener as we Grow: Achieving Edmonton’s goal of two million trees over the next 8 years” is a “Big City Move” (citywide mission statement) that commits Edmonton to expanding its canopy as it expands its borders. Its goals are threefold: plant two million new urban trees, install a total carbon budget of 135 megatonnes, and bring net per-person greenhouse gas emissions to zero. Since publishing its new city plan, 36 new Greener as We Grow policy statements have been added to the city policy list; these include further commitments to “demonstrate shared leadership as stewards of the environment”, “expand and enhance a health and sustainable urban forest,” and “conserve, restore, and reconnect natural areas and ecological networks.” 

To make the “Greener as We Grow” section of the city plan more accessible, Edmonton has released an interactive summary portal detailing its short-term and long-term urban forestry goals. The portal details the planting of saplings along Edmonton’s “target areas,” which include municipal parks, roadsides, stormwater management facilities, utility corridors, and open spaces. It also mentions the creation of two tools - the Naturalization, Restoration, and Reclamation Plan (NRRP) and the Green Infrastructure Expansion Mapping (GIEM) Model - that will help Edmonton collect data on its forests and determine the best location for new trees.

Impact:

The two tools that are part of the “Greener As We Grow” goal are in the works. Two engagement processes have taken place in order to gauge public perspective and opinion on the process, both of which have been fully reported on. A council report in 2023 forecasted that the city would meet its goal of planting two million urban trees by 2030 and was on its way to its target 20% urban forest canopy. This goal is modest, but provides a citywide baseline to measure progress. The report also recommended “increasing incentives and programs for tree planting and preservation on private lands, as well as enhancing communication with applicants to improve compliance in existing landscaping regulations” - this recommendation is currently being considered.

Additional Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdMb9J77uWo (2020)

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_vision_and_strategic_plan/city-plan (2020)

https://pub-edmonton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=192369 (2023)