Environmental Master Plan

The Environmental Master Plan (EMP) serves as a guide to improve environmental performance in our city by setting goals and recommending actions to achieve those goals.
Fall - Red Deer River - 700 x 200 px

The 2019 Environmental Master Plan (pdf) identifies six focus areas: water, ecology, community design, air, energy and waste. See our progress in each focus area by clicking on the tiles below.

EMP Water Tile

Water

Goal: To improve the quality of our water resources and increase water conservation.

EMP Waste Tile

Waste

Goal: To decrease the amount of waste going to landfill and increase waste diversion opportunities.

EMP Energy Tile

Energy

Goal: To reduce energy use and move towards using renewable energy sources.

EMP Ecology Tile

Ecology

Goal: To protect and enhance the terrestrial and aquatic health of the natural heritage system.

EMP Community Design Tile

Community Design

Goal: To plan and build a well-connected, sustainable community that contributes to a quality of life for residents.

EMP Air Tile

Air

Goal: To improve air quality and reduce emissions.

Highlights of achievements

2021 marks 10 years since the EMP was first adopted by Council as a planning tool. Much has been achieved, including:

  • Implemented the Green Cart program, reducing residential waste to landfill and decreasing GHG emissions
  • Installed co-generation at Collicutt Centre and solar panels at Sorensen Station
    Facilitated community renewable energy installations throughout the city, expanding to one hundred times 2010’s capacity
  • Created Urban Forest Management Plan to help us maintain a sustainable urban forest and all its health, social and environmental benefits
  • Water use targets have been consistently achieved and strengthened
  • Installed methane flaring at the Waste Management Facility to reduce GHG emissions
  • Trialled an electric vehicle and used grants to purchase other EVs
  • Worked to reduce emissions from Transit by switching to natural gas buses
  • Used a grant from Federation of Canadian Municipalities to hire a Climate Change Specialist