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Environmental Sustainability

OVERVIEW

Edmonton Public Schools is committed to being an environmentally responsible organization through education, conservation and protection. As a large public school division, our actions educate students and model environmentally sustainable behaviour and practice.

In 2023, we developed a strategy to guide our environmental efforts over the following four years. 

Emissions reduction targets

As part of our commitments, we set emissions reduction targets of five per cent by 2025, and 45 per cent by 2035. We exceeded our 2025 goal, decreasing emissions by about seven per cent from 2021. Since 2017, we have reduced emissions by about 16 per cent. Emissions continue to trend downward even with more students, schools and increased use of school space. 

These targets are supported by an emissions reduction plan in our Energy and Environment Strategy 2023–26. 

Where our emissions come from

We operate more than 210 schools and a number of other buildings that serve more than 122,000 students and 10,000 staff. The majority of our emissions come from powering schools and buildings.

Breakdown of 2025 emissions

Pie chart from 2026 data showing that 85% of Edmonton Public Schools’ greenhouse gas emissions come from three sources: Natural gas consumption (51%), electricity consumption (34%), other emissions (15%).

 

What we’re doing

Here are a few of the actions that are helping us reach our targets:

  • adding rooftop solar energy installations to more schools
  • purchasing renewable energy from solar and wind farms
  • replacing aging appliances and lighting with more energy-efficient options
  • keeping more trash out of landfills through organics collection and waste-sorting stations in schools
  • dedicating maintenance funding to energy-efficient and sustainable projects
  • implementing new sustainability criteria to ensure we’re working with environmentally responsible vendors and products 

Find out more

POLICY

Policy: Environment (EO.BP)

ENVIROMATTERS

The EnviroMatters Office helps schools across the Division reduce their environmental impact by:

  • promoting and supporting environmental events and initiatives at schools
  • sharing curricular and co-curricular resources for teachers to use in the classroom
  • empowering students to lead activities in their school and communities

RESOURCES

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

COMMUNITY RESOURCES