The work we do today lays the foundation for a resilient, vibrant and prosperous Region for future generations
Guided by our integrated growth plan, the EMRB promotes long-term sustainability through environmentally responsible growth. As part of stewarding natural assets in the Region, EMRB collaborates with all levels of government, the non-profit and private sectors, and with member municipalities playing a pivotal role in this collective effort.
Read the fact sheetNatural living systems and the environment are the foundations of a successful agriculture system
Learn more about our agriculture plan (RAMP)
As municipalities grow, we need a plan to conserve prime agricultural lands for as long as possible to ensure food security, and also as a way to safeguard the environment by protecting watersheds and mitigating impacts of climate change.
Embedded in our agriculture plan, a land evaluation site assessment (LESA) tool identifies lands to conserve for as long as possible. It also helps identify options to sustainably grow agriculture and value added agriculture sectors.
Abundant natural assets and biodiversity for future generations
Clean water and healthy watersheds
As we grow, protection of watersheds is imperative to ensure a reliable supply of clean water for future generations. Concurrently, it is imperative that the Region have long term municipal water and stormwater servicing capacity to accommodate the planned development.
The EMRB is currently exploring potential partnerships to map regional and sub-regional watershed assets to guide decisions and initiatives on open spaces, stormwater management, and agriculture, among others.
Open spaces
The Region’s quality of life is intimately tied to our ability to foster a healthy environment, and plan for and manage open spaces, which include natural areas, parks and recreation, and tourism attractions.
Within our growth plan, we’ve committed to identifying a regional strategy to connect parks, open spaces, greenways and trails in the Region. This coordinated approach to the way we interact with our natural spaces aims to meet current and future health and recreational needs of the Region’s growing population, while minimizing adverse environmental impacts.
With this in mind, the EMRB has planned to start work in 2025 on developing an integrated regional open spaces master plan that includes natural asset mapping, the identification of recreation corridors, and opportunities to promote tourism.
Waste management
Identified by the EMRB as a high priority service area, the case for a long-term regional plan for solid waste management is simple — we’re thinking about how we intend to manage the waste of an additional million people and 500,000 jobs in the Region.
We know that there are already growth pressures facing existing solid waste management facilities, as well as increasing costs of collection and processing as the Region grows.
An astonishing 58% of food produced in Canada is lost! Recycling food waste helps create top-quality compost material that can go back into your garden or a farmer’s field.
Stormwater management
More frequent and intense weather events also increase the risk of flooding, impacting stormwater and other municipal infrastructure, risk to public safety, and cost of damages.
A changing climate and increased intensity of storms will result in increased demands on built infrastructure, as well as on the creeks, streams and other natural water bodies impacted by stormwater discharges.
The stormwater action plan, approved in 2021, is a catalyst for advancing and building resilience against stormwater impacts. Efforts are underway at a regional level to enhance our understanding, preparation, and mitigation of flood risks through ongoing flood mapping.
Looking at the Region through a climate resiliency lens
Climate change has far-reaching effects that go beyond municipal borders. It directly influences our natural and built environments, affecting the air we breathe, the integrity of our water sources, and our natural assets.
Damage caused by natural disasters in Alberta in 2020 was roughly $2.4 B, with municipalities responsible for 10% of disaster response costs.
From risk to resilience – climate resilience study
Understanding climate resiliency and the importance of safeguarding our natural assets is paramount.
In a first of its kind comprehensive study undertaken in the Region, the climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) looks at proactive measures that we can consider to reduce the negative impacts of hazardous events and save money over the long term. What’s more, it shows the benefits of proactive adaptation to climate change exceed the costs of inaction. This insight allows the Board to understand the adaptation actions, learn how to avoid or reduce key risks, and seize opportunities at local and regional levels.
Read the climate risk and vulnerability assessment (PDF, 4mb)This project was funded in part by the Government of Alberta, through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program.
The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta.