DRAFT ACTION CONCEPTS are the high-level action statements that describe what climate action the City is proposing. The figure below illustrates how the draft action concepts are organized into Action Categories and demonstrates the additional connection to the action concepts to benefits beyond climate.

ACTION CONCEPT CATEGORIES (multi-coloured ring of figure) are how the action concepts are organized.

BENEFITS BEYOND CLIMATE (outer grey ring of figure) are the intended benefits of action concepts to other important priorities, such as affordability, equity and economic development. Each individual action concept identifies the relevant benefits beyond building climate resilience.

In the action details, each action concept also identifies if the primary focus of the action is adaptation, energy transition, or both.

Adaptation Actions are actions that respond to and address the risks of a changing climate, including preparing for changing temperatures, precipitation, weather extremes, and changing ecosystems.

Energy Transition Actions are actions that reduce or prevent the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere in an effort to slow climate change. Examples include using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Below is a high-level summary of the draft action concepts. To view more details, please refer to the Draft Action Concepts.

Community Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan

The Community Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan, approved by Council in 2021, sets ambitious targets for reducing GHG emissions and outlines key pathways for the City’s energy transition.

The Energy Transition Strategy sets out clear interim targets to meet the City Plan’s goal of net-zero per-person GHG emissions:

• 2025: Reduce community-based net GHG emissions by 35 per cent (compared to 2005 levels)
• 2030: Reduce community-based net GHG emissions by 50 per cent (compared to 2005 levels)
• 2050: Achieve net-zero per-person GHG emissions

The Energy Transition Strategy lays out four pathways, supported by goals, strategies, and actions, to guide Edmonton’s climate resilience goal of a low carbon city:

• Renewable and Resilient Energy Transition: Actions that support the transition to renewable energy through innovation, investment, and the development of local renewable energy systems.
• Emission Neutral Buildings: Actions that support energy efficient and emission neutral development and retrofits.
• Low Carbon City and Transportation: Actions that support the work outlined in the City Plan to transform city building efforts to build complete and compact communities supported by comprehensive and accessible active transportation and public transportation networks.
• Nature Based Solutions and Carbon Capture: Actions that support carbon sequestration through preservation of natural areas and investment in carbon capture technology.

Climate Resilient Edmonton: Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan

The Climate Resilient Edmonton: Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan, approved by Council in 2020, outlines actions to enable the City and its residents to respond to the impacts of climate change - protecting the community, infrastructure and services. The Adaptation Strategy lays out pathways, goals, and actions to address climate impacts facing Edmonton today and into the future.

The Adaptation Strategy outlines five paths to climate resilience; the paths connect science-based decisionmaking with the primary climate change impacts identified for Edmonton:

• Science and Evidence Based Decisions: Actions that support science and evidence based decision making; climate resilient infrastructure and built form; and communities, households, institutions and residents who are more prepared for impacts and opportunities from the changing climate.
• Preparing for Changing Temperatures: Actions that support adapting to increasing temperatures and preparing for more frequent drought conditions.
• Preparing for Changing Precipitation: Actions that support adapting to potential changes to Edmonton’s water supply and to flooding impacts that changing precipitation may bring.
• Preparing for Changing Weather Extremes: Actions that increase the resilience of Edmonton’s electricity and fuel systems and support Edmontonians to prepare for, respond to and recover from changing weather extremes.
• Preparing for Changing Ecosystems: Actions that support the protection of natural ecosystems, and to improve the resilience of food systems and urban infrastructure.

Climate Resilience Policy (C627)

To support implementation of the two strategies, City Council adopted an integrated Climate Resilience Policy, which states the City of Edmonton commits to immediately and urgently:

1. Act to reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2025, 50 per cent by 2030 and be a carbon neutral community by 2050 through Energy Transition to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;
2. Act to adapt, prepare for and respond to a changing climate; and
3. Lead climate solutions in service delivery and corporate management. This includes designing and constructing emission neutral, climate ready City buildings.

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear and consistent governance and accountabilities for achieving a climate resilient community, and to demonstrate to Edmonton’s citizens, businesses, and community and industry partners the City of Edmonton's commitment to climate solution leadership in all aspects of city planning, development and business decisions.

Foundations Of Climate Action At The City

The implementation of our existing actions have resulted in established processes that integrate climate action practices into City programs, services, and projects. These established processes are now considered our foundational actions and will continue to mature and strengthen over time. Examples of this continued implementation include:

• Governance: Includes policies, procedures, standards, and strategies that integrate climate-informed practices, such as the 25-year Waste Strategy, the Zoning Bylaw, the River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan, Breathe: Green Network Strategy, Sustainable Procurement Policy, and Climate Resilience Building Procedures.
• Programs and Services: Includes capital and operational projects that drive transition and adaptation, such as the LRT Expansion, the Active Transportation Network, and the Blatchford Development.
• Measurement and Monitoring: Includes the variety of metrics and targets that take into account corporate reporting on activities as well as indicators of progress at the community level. This includes reporting embedded within City Plan, budget and Council reports, greenhouse gas inventories for the corporation and the community, and climate risk reporting. Data analysis and reporting informs corrective actions to advance work and supports informed decision-making.
• Community Engagement: Includes Change for Climate resources such as the Change Homes for Climate Guide, Climate Resilient Homes and Business Tools, and the Neighbouring for Climate program that brings neighbours together to take climate action.

The Updated Climate Action Plan (2027–2030) will explicitly reference these ongoing foundational practices within Administration to signal their importance and ensure continuity. The action concepts below, which will be detailed within the Updated Climate Action Plan (2027–2030), are designed to complement the progress that has already been made and further advance our overarching climate strategies.

For more information, please refer to Additional Info - City’s Approach To Responding To Climate Change and check out the City’s Climate Action Dashboard.

Edmonton’s climate is changing. These changes are disrupting the social, economic, and environmental systems that support our quality of life. A study specific to Edmonton found that climate change could cause direct annual costs of approximately $1 billion as early as the 2040s, and up to $4 billion yearly as early as 2070s (Boyd, R. 2022. Costs of inaction: Economic impacts of climate change on Edmonton). Observations indicate that changes to temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events are already occurring. In fact, Edmonton is warming at a rate faster than the global average, with 2023 standing as the hottest year on record. When looking to the future, scientists predict that Edmonton will see higher temperatures, more drought and flooding events, more extreme weather events, and the transformation of local ecosystems.

The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions in our community are from the transportation, industry, and residential building sectors.

The foundations of the climate strategies continue to guide the City’s climate action approach. In addition, the following principles are being used to inform action concepts:

1. Near-Term Benefit with Long-Term Impacts. Updated actions will support and maintain the City’s existing goals related to energy transition and adaptation. Updated actions will also focus on near-term benefits such as improving safety and health, reducing pollution, growing the economy, creating jobs, saving people money, and creating innovation opportunities for post secondary institutes, students and market leaders. As part of this update, actions will have positive impacts for Edmontonians today, as we work toward our long-term goals.
2. Focused Implementation and Accountable Climate Action. Climate action requires accelerated efforts. The updated actions will take a strategic approach that prioritizes and focuses action for the next four years. Updated actions will be specific, measurable, and achievable within the next four year period (2027-2030). Updates will improve accountability throughout the City and identify opportunities where external partners can plan a role in implementation.
3. Creating Pathways to Partnerships. Partnership is essential for updated actions. Climate action requires collective and inclusive effort. Almost 80 per cent of Edmontonians agree that the impact of climate change will be reduced if people work together on solutions. Updated actions will be developed in collaboration with external community partners to reflect the important role of the community in championing climate action. Actions will use a variety of levers to achieve our climate goals and will identify the role the City will take to foster climate action with partners.
4. Integrating with City Goals. To address the diverse needs and expectations of residents, the updated actions will support existing City goals.

• Climate resilience is about Edmonton’s capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change and protect people, businesses and infrastructure from those impacts. By reducing our energy use and transitioning to low carbon energy sources, we can mitigate climate change. The other piece of resilience is adapting our city to a climate that is already changing. Risks related to climate change include challenges posed by severe weather events such as heavy rain or heat waves. When we get mitigation and adaptation right, we become climate resilient.
• Climate mitigation refers to efforts that slow climate change by reducing or preventing the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Examples include using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and walking, biking and taking public transit.
• Climate adaptation involves minimizing negative impacts, reducing risks and embracing potential opportunities associated with climate change so that communities and ecosystems are prepared to cope with new or changing climate conditions.