Alberta’s Strategy for SustainabilityAlberta’s Strategy for Sustainability

presented topresented to

Prairie Water Policy SymposiumPrairie Water Policy Symposium

Beverly Yee, Assistant Deputy MinisterBeverly Yee, Assistant Deputy Minister

Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

September 23, 2005September 23, 2005

Need for a Need for a New ApproachNew Approach We face changing and challenging times –

the way we manage the environment must respond to those changes and challenges.

Significant drivers for change Economic and population growth Complexity of environmental issues Information and knowledge Public expectations Ability to control environmental outcomes Traditional systems

Systems ApproachSystems ApproachKey elements of a systems approach are:

environmental outcomes that are agreed to across government and amongst stakeholders

policies that are integrated across all media (land, air and water) and across government departments

shared delivery of programs to better manage and protect the environment

good information and knowledge to support decision-making

monitoring, validation and reporting of results to the public on achievement of environmental outcomes

Five Strategic ShiftsFive Strategic Shifts Government-wide vision and shared

implementation across ministries

Shared responsibility with communities, organizations, technical experts and individuals

A place-based approach, across all media, looking at cumulative impacts

A comprehensive, flexible set of regulatory and non-regulatory tools and incentives

Continuous improvement in environmental performance and accountability

Developed with Albertans, released in November 2003

Dialogue on issues was very important

Results: increased awareness and understanding

of water-related issues

sense of shared responsibility by Albertans

comprehensive, long-term strategy focused on sustainability

Water for LifeWater for Life

Water for LifeWater for LifeSignals a ChangeSignals a Change From process to outcomes

From water management to watershed management

From regulating to shared governance

Water for LifeWater for Life - - OutcomesOutcomes Safe, secure drinking water supply

Healthy aquatic ecosystems

Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

agreed-to outcomes

Water for LifeWater for Life – – Key DirectionsKey Directions Knowledge and research

Partnerships for watershed management and stewardship

Water conservation

Safe,Safe, Secure Secure Drinking Water SupplyDrinking Water Supply Drinking water facility assessment completed

Priority on regional water/wastewater systems

Source protection

Continuously improving standards

Health surveillance system for waterborne diseases

Report the quality of drinking water

shared delivery of programs

continuous improvement

monitoring and reporting

Healthy Aquatic Healthy Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems Wetland policy and inventory

Determine aquatic ecosystem requirements What threshold amount of water is needed for a

healthy aquatic ecosystem? What are the incremental benefits of more water

in rivers? What are the incremental benefits of

withdrawing more water?

Monitor and report on the state of aquatic ecosystems

good information and knowledge

monitoring and reporting

Reliable, Quality Reliable, Quality Water SuppliesWater Supplies Evaluation of water storage sites

Transboundary agreements International Joint Commission

Prairie Provinces Water Board Mackenzie River Basin Board

Water allocation transfers

flexible tools

integrated policies

Knowledge Knowledge and Researchand Research Knowledge to make good decisions:

Scientific knowledge of groundwater and surface water resources

Understanding needs of aquatic ecosystems

Research on emerging issues: Climate change Impact of pharmaceuticals

Alberta Water Council developing a water research strategy

good information and knowledge

Partnerships for Partnerships for Watershed ManagementWatershed Management Three types of partnerships that have

distinct roles and are complementary to one another. Alberta Water Council - provincial

Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils - regional

Watershed Stewardship Groups - local

shared responsibility

place-based approach

Shared Governance Shared Governance for for Effective Water ManagementEffective Water Management

Alberta Water Council: Advise on provincial water management

issues

Steward implementation of Water Strategy

Develop approach to water conservation

Identify research priorities

Wetland policy

Shared Governance for Shared Governance for Effective Water ManagementEffective Water Management Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils

(WPACs) Develop watershed management plans - must be

integrated to include quantity, quality, ecosystem health, source protection and land use impacts.

Promote best management practices.

Report on state of the watershed.

WPACs in place WPACs in development

Oldman Lesser Slave Peace

Bow Battle Athabasca

North Saskatchewan

Cold Lake-Beaver River

Red Deer

Shared Governance Shared Governance for for Effective Water ManagementEffective Water Management Watershed Stewardship Groups

Educate Albertans and raise awareness on the watersheds they live in.

Undertake stewardship activities to improve and protect watersheds.

Water ConservationWater Conservation Ensure water efficiency and productivity improves by

30% improvement from 2005 levels by 2015

Sector plans for water use improvements (Advisory Committee on Water Use Practice and Policy)

Full cost accounting

Determination of the value of water in Alberta’s economy

Investigation of the merits of economic instruments

shared responsibility

flexible tools

integrated policy

Lessons Learned - Lessons Learned - SuccessesSuccesses Outcomes come first!

Breadth and depth of engagement of stakeholders

Public support – working with the media

Educating the decision-makers

Cross-Ministry buy-in

Shared governance model

Shift to watershed management

Lessons Learned - Lessons Learned - ChallengesChallenges Monitoring, validation and reporting

of results

Capacity-building – internal and external

Cross-Ministry coordination of implementation

What has changed with What has changed with Water for LifeWater for Life??

FROM TO

Government policies and direction not fully integrated

Clear, government-wide policy, directions and outcomes

Traditional command and control regulatory system

Much broader, innovative tools and approaches

Desire by Albertans to be involved in their community

Albertans have a greater opportunity to be meaningfully involved (local, regional, provincial)

Pockets of alliances with stakeholders that achieve results

Broad-based alliances with all parts of society to share responsibilities for outcomes

Meeting environmental standards Sustainability drives continuous improvement approaches

Goal: A management system that results in improved environmental quality and sustainability.