Environmental Cumulative Effects Management

1. Environmental Cumulative Effects Management Getting Serious about the Environmental Challenges of our Time CEMS for GN LCC

2. Presentation Overview • Nature of the Challenge • Nature of the Response • Alberta’s experience to date • Trans-boundary potential CEMS for GN LCC

3. CEMS for GN LCC

4. CEMS for GN LCC

5. Resource use • Economy • Population • Footprint • Expectations of participation • Conflicts among stakeholders • Impacts on air, land, water and biodiversity …environmental cumulative effects: the results of all activity on ambient environmental quality Pressures on Landscapes CEMS for GN LCC

6. The Subdivision Phenomenon Structures/Twp 1940 - 2002 CEMS for GN LCC

7. Nat Flow (ac. ft.) Allocation Volume 15000 12500 10000 7500 Allocation Volume (Acre feet x 1000) Total River Volume - (Acre Feet x 1000) 5000 2500 0 1893 1903 1913 1923 1933 1943 1953 1963 1973 1983 1993 Water Supply CEMS for GN LCC

8. Environmental Pressures on Alberta’s Landscapes • rapid economic growth with accompanying population increases • pressure for expansion in every resource-based industry CEMS for GN LCC

9. Consuming the Environment (Unregulated) CEMS for GN LCC

10. Municipalities Agriculture Forestry Transportation Energy Industry Environmental Standards Sector Based Physical environmental condition of air, land and water CEMS for GN LCC

11. Presentation Overview • Nature of the Challenge • Nature of the Response • Alberta’s experience to date • Trans-boundary potential CEMS for GN LCC

12. Scarcity Abundance Air,land, water, biodiversity Single Multiple spatial scales Project / local All activities Regulated activities Proactive Reactive Defined outcomes Mitigate impacts Connected by outcomes Fragmented Collective action Single agency / regulator Integral to system Ad hoc Current Approach versus What’s Needed CEMS for GN LCC

13. Providing Albertans Environmental Quality Assurance Environmental Management System Air Water Biodiversity Land Forestry Energy Industry Transportation Agriculture Municipalities CEMS for GN LCC

14. CEMS Fundamentals • Outcomes based: clearly defined environmental end states • Place based: geographically specific areas at different scales in the province • Performance management based: adaptive and generative environmental management system • Collaborative: built on a culture of shared stewardship, using a shared knowledge base. • Comprehensive implementation: uses both regulatory and non-regulatory approaches CEMS for GN LCC

15. The CEM System Management Actions • STRATEGIC DIRECTION • Legislation • GoA and Ministry Business • Plans • Provincial Level Strategic • Policies • DEVELOP & REFINE • OUTCOMES & STRATEGIES • Regional Strategic • Assessment • Place-Based Planning • Indicator Selection • Operational Policy/Strategy • Management Frameworks • EVALUATE & REPORT PERFORMANCE • Environmental indicators • and their implications • Effectiveness of strategies • and their delivery • DELIVERY • Tools: Authorizations, • Compliance Assurance, • Non-Regulatory • Monitoring, Data Management, • Emergency Services

16. Managing Environmental Performance Management actions Defining outcomes Water suitable for aquatic life Defining indicators Reporting indicators Average August temperature Water temperature Temperature threshold Temperature (ºC) Time Monitoring indicators Knowledge & Performance Management is the foundation of a functional Cumulative Effects Management System. CEMS for GN LCC

17. Implications: Understanding Condition and Making Choices Desired State Desired State Desired State SOCIAL CONTEXT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT What’s possible? What you want (Target/ Outcome) What you’ve got What you may get Pristine ‘Line in the Sand’ Current state Projected state Threshold CEMS for GN LCC

18. CEMS Transformation: Key Messages An Environmental Cumulative Effects Management System: • is not about ‘Environment Dominating.’ • internalizes environment in societal decisions and management. • enables intensity of use to be managed (a ‘plan to manage growth’). • can streamline regulatory complexity. • provides a common policy framework. • establishes for all parties, a social license to discharge mandates. • can reduce conflict. • is a collective exercise - everyone’s horsepower. CEMS for GN LCC

19. Presentation Overview • Nature of the Challenge • Nature of the Response • Alberta’s experience to date • Trans-boundary potential CEMS for GN LCC

20. AEW Business Priorities Outcome Based Environmental Cumulative Effects Management System Alberta’s Environment Sustains a High Quality Of Life. Climate Change Strategy Water for Life Strategy Clean Air Strategy Oil Sands Environmental Management Too Good To Waste Strategy Foundational Work People; Regulatory System Delivery; Policy Capacity; Education and Outreach; Communications; Information and Knowledge; Financial, Legal and Business Support CEMS for GN LCC

21. Environmental Management: Continuous Improvement

22. GOA Strategic Architecture Strategic outcomes Land-use Framework Oil sands plan Energy Strategy Clean Air Strategy and Action Plan* Biodiversity action plan* Too Good to Waste Strategy Climate Change Strategy Water for Life strategy and action plan Parks plan Strategic direction and action Cumulative Effects Management System Place-based Application Place-based plans CEMS for GN LCC

23. Land Use Framework: Strategies • 1. Seven land-use regions • 2. Land Use Secretariat and Regional Advisory Councils • 3. Cumulative effects management at the regional level • 4. Strategy for conservation and stewardship on private and public lands • 5. Efficient use of land • 6. An information, monitoring and knowledge system • 7. Inclusion of Aboriginal peoples in land-use planning CEMS for GN LCC

24. Regional Plans • Lower Athabasca • South Saskatchewan • North Saskatchewan • Upper Athabasca • Red Deer • Upper Peace • Lower Peace CEMS for GN LCC

25. Regional Assessment and Planning • Establishment of information and knowledge base; • Consideration of “possible futures” and determination of desired outcomes; • Assessment of options and the anticipated cumulative effects, with models, trend analysis and other analytical tools; • Feeds directly into development of regional plan; • Similar approach can be taken at other scales. CEMS for GN LCC

26. Regional Plans AEW Contribution Provincial Policies Regional Plans Environmental Outcomes Alberta Land Stewardship Act Social Outcomes Economic Outcomes Alberta Environment & Water Environmental Strategies Deliver Environmental Programs CEMS for GN LCC

27. Management Frameworks • Collaborative approach to development with leadership by government to establish desired outcomes and objectives • Progressive action based on the conditions found in the environment; trigger points • Identified integrated management actions at trigger points • Full range of information, incentive, and regulatory tools for implementation • Intensity of management actions increases to respond to the state of conditions and levels of risk Deliberate adaptive management! CEMS for GN LCC

28. Management Frameworks Provides regional context for decisions about management of existing and future activities Indicators, Triggers and Limits • Indicators are chosen • Triggers & limits are set • Ongoing monitoring and assessment of conditions relative to triggers & limits Monitoring and Modelling • Management actions taken as needed at triggers & limits • Results reported Management Response and Reporting CEMS for GN LCC

29. Delivery System Tool Box • Regulatory Excellence • Outcomes-based • authorizations • Continuous improvement; • Limits trigger action; • Non Regulatory Excellence • Easements • Offsets • Market incentives • BMP’s; Compliance assurance through education, prevention, incentives and enforcement CEMS for GN LCC

30. Delivery System Enhancement • Enhance the range of regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms • Manage a cluster of activities involving multiple parties, requiring clarity of rules, roles, and accountabilities

31. Strategic Direction PLAN CE Assessment Adapt (Mgmt Action) Integrated Monitoring System Evaluate & Report Develop/ Refine Outcomes Measurement Decisions (Reg & Non-Reg) Supporting Monitoring System Trans-Boundary PLAN ADAPT Provincial Regional Sub- Regional DO CHECK

32. Presentation Overview • Nature of the Challenge • Nature of the Response • Alberta’s experience to date • Trans-boundary potential CEMS for GN LCC

33. Crown of the Continent Ecosystem • Large, intact ecosystem • High profile setting • Unique attributes • Peace Park at core • Highly valued CEMS for GN LCC

34. Interdependency: Water CEMS for GN LCC

35. Interdependency: Water CEMS for GN LCC

36. Interdependency: Grizzlies CEMS for GN LCC

37. Interdependency: Grizzlies CEMS for GN LCC

38. Crown Pressures • Climate Change • Invasive weeds • Fire Management • Urban and rural residential development • Tourism and recreational use • Resource use and extraction • Environmental Quality • Water Quality, quantity, fisheries, aquatics • Wildlife habitat – fragmentation and loss • Degradation of ecosystem goods and services CEMS for GN LCC

39. A Better Way Forward? • Response: Assure environmental quality • Manage growth pressures Common outcomes align • Environmental Quality: • As good as it gets • Land Use Challenges: • Chronic and continuing hot spot • Jurisdictional Challenges: • Complex and trans-boundary CEMS for GN LCC

40. In this Thing Together… • The environment doesn’t recognize jurisdictional boundaries; • There is a need for cooperation and stewardship in a world of shared resources; and • Canadians and Americans have an enduring interest in peace, goodwill and a willingness to work together cooperatively. CEMS for GN LCC

41. Conceptual Relationships • National • Meso • Region • Region • Sub region • GN LCC AGO CRT CMP US Federal Stakeholders Planning and Policy Alignment Community based Stakeholders CEMS for GN LCC

42. The Destination Competitiveness “US” Agriculture Policy AEW Partnerships Other Ministries Community Spirit s o c i a l LUS Interest Groups economic Energy Policy social Meet Implications Other Jurisdictions Sustainability Nat/Prov Boards Innovation Alberta leadership economic Reg NGOs Feds Sub Reg Regulated industry Unregulated industry Social license Civil Society Site Community Groups Landholders Cooperation Policy Alignment Urban Municipalities Rural Municipalities K/PM Regulatory Streamlining Set a Management Frameworks Regional Strategic Assessment Governance Regulatory Tools Non-regulatory tools Policy frameworks l EQ w b es CEMS for GN LCC

43. The Future The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination. John Schaar CEMS for GN LCC

44. CEMS for GN LCC

45. Thank-you. Ian W. Dyson Strategy Division, Alberta Environment and Water More information: http://environment.alberta.ca/0890.html https://www.landuse.alberta.ca/Pages/default.aspx