Array
(
[id] => 308
[active] => 1
[city_id] => 137
[city_name] => Edmonton
[contact_name] => Josef
[contact_surname] => Legaspi
[contact_email] => JLegaspi@ExploreEdmonton.com
[organisation] => Explore Edmonton
[website] => https://www.exploreedmonton.com
[environmental_description] => The City of Edmonton has outlined two long-term strategies to effectively attack and mitigate the effects of climate change. As a fossil fuel reliant city, Edmonton understands its role in protecting the environment, expanding our knowledge, changing our way of living, and adapting to changes that have already taken place. Now is the time to re-imagine Edmonton and take real actionable transformational change.
Most Edmontonian’s view the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System as the most important feature of our city. It is a vital ecological corridor, a valued recreation destination, a place of incredible cultural significance and a draw for visitors throughout the region. Ribbon of Green is a comprehensive strategic plan for the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System to guide appropriate public use and enjoyment while sustaining and restoring healthy and resilient ecosystems.
In Edmonton, transportation accounts for 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the city plan, our transportation priorities support sustainable mobility choices that support healthy, vibrant, and liveable communities. This includes the expansion of our bike lanes, transition of City of Edmonton bus fleet to electric buses starting in 2020, extension of the LRT (Light Rail Transit System), Electric vehicle roll-out and introduction of electric scooters in 2019.
[social_description] => Edmonton has made strides to be an active member in our community and its citizens. Edmonton is a community that supports and brings up each other during hardships and troubling times. Our community is resilient and strong – and inherently have an earnest drive to keep doing good for good. As stewards of Edmonton, we are dedicated to ensuring our development and operations continually give back. Most recently, the Edmonton Convention Centre hosted Tipinawâw – which in Cree translates to “sheltered from the outside elements”. Tipinawâw was a safe space that provided support for vulnerable individuals in response to Edmonton’s winters and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Socially distanced and masked, Tipinawâw provided participants with a warm space to sleep, three nutritious meals a day and access to cultural and essential services on their journey to access stable housing. Tipinawâw successfully facilitated more than 90,000 check-ins for access to daytime services and over 35,000 check-ins for overnight access, with 150 individuals successfully achieving long-term housing.
Edmonton also showcases multiple levels of inclusive growth programs and initiatives such as the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation Hospitality Institute, Edmonton Public Library, Inquiring Minds Schools, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, and the Skirts a Fire Festival.
[supplier_description] => Explore Edmonton operates the Edmonton Convention Centre which is the first conference venue to receive 5 Green Key Meetings Rating. The Edmonton Convention Centre also has a structured Responsible Events Program, Waste Management Initiatives, Sustainable Urban Permaculture, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, an Urban Beehive, Carbon Offsetting Programs, and is part of a Second Helping Program and has a growing devoted sustainability team.
Additionally, Explore Edmonton is a Climate Smart Certified business and in 2020 was the recipient of the City of Edmonton’s Corporate Climate Leader of the Year award. Explore Edmonton was the recipient of the 2019 Emerald Award in the Large Business Category. This award recognizes organizations who raise the bar in addressing local, regional, and global environmental & climate issues.
Explore Edmonton is now offering the carbon offset program as part of the Responsible Events Program. Though COVID-19 has prevented us from measuring the full extent of the initiatives' impact, we have had great results in engaging audiences with this initiative and we are hopeful that it will continue to gain popularity. We estimate that based off our business events in 2019, we can reduce an average of 579 tCO2e* of emissions per event in the future. Once business begins to stabilize, our goal is to be able to make 20% of all events hosted within our venues Carbon Neutral amounting to a minimum of 3239 tCO2e of emissions that will be offset every year.
[dmo_description] => Edmonton is a city that is constantly growing and making a name for itself in sustainable tourism. As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), we understand that there is a growing need for sustainable and responsible tourism. As our economies continue to open, it is important to focus on the safety and sustainability of our communities, and in turn, tourism.
Sustainability has come to be synonymous with Edmonton. Edmonton has 13km of light rail transit opening in 2022 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2040. Venues across the city are jumping onboard to be a part of the change. Our Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre both launched Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans and are Green Key and Climate Smart Certified. In alignment with our city’s goals, Explore Edmonton is committed to climate resilience and creating social benefit as part of our organizational performance goals. Edmonton was the location of Canada’s first food bank, and we have an ongoing commitment to increasing food security in our city. Our large tourism venues, including our convention centre, exhibition grounds, and arena continue to be major donor organizations to the Edmonton Food Bank.
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[video] => s4atgnBJk2Y
[img_1] => https://omni.gds.earth/storage/public_website/destination_photos/0wm1200aqqwTpiDjABmLyxTafKw35eDmHZdF0xiC.jpg
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[img_5] =>
[high_env_1] => 12.1
[high_env_2] => 21
[high_env_3] => 3784
[high_soc_1] => 77.73
[high_soc_2] => 91.41
[high_soc_3] => 74
[high_sup_1] => 44
[high_sup_2] => 100
[high_sup_3] => 0
[high_dmo_1] => Multi year strategy (+3 years),Aligned to the city's overall development agenda (not just tourism and events)
[high_dmo_2] => 0
[high_dmo_3] => We display performance data via a visual dashboard,We publish performance data on the DMO website,We include performance data in our Annual DMO or sustainability report
[created_at] => 2022-11-09 12:01:54
[updated_at] => 2023-09-23 12:02:08
[year] => 2022
)
Array
(
[id] => 308
[year] => 2022
[city_id] => 137
[city_name] => Edmonton
[score_type] => city
[Total] => 55.44
[Total_rank] => 54
[Environment] => 55
[Environment_rank] => 30
[Social] => 75
[Social_rank] => 11
[Supplier] => 28.57
[Supplier_rank] => 41
[DMO] => 62.77
[DMO_rank] => 32
[longitude] => -113.508
[latitude] => 53.5354
[population] => 981280
[country] => Canada
[region] => North America
[created_at] => 2022-11-09 12:00:25
[updated_at] => 2022-11-09 12:00:25
)
Edmonton 2022 GDS-Index Report
Edmonton, Canada
2022 Performance Overview
DMO
Supplier
Social
Environmental
Performance Highlights
Summary
Environmental
Supplier
Social
Edmonton is a city that is constantly growing and making a name for itself in sustainable tourism. As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), we understand that there is a growing need for sustainable and responsible tourism. As our economies continue to open, it is important to focus on the safety and sustainability of our communities, and in turn, tourism.
Sustainability has come to be synonymous with Edmonton. Edmonton has 13km of light rail transit opening in 2022 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2040. Venues across the city are jumping onboard to be a part of the change. Our Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre both launched Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans and are Green Key and Climate Smart Certified. In alignment with our city’s goals, Explore Edmonton is committed to climate resilience and creating social benefit as part of our organizational performance goals. Edmonton was the location of Canada’s first food bank, and we have an ongoing commitment to increasing food security in our city. Our large tourism venues, including our convention centre, exhibition grounds, and arena continue to be major donor organizations to the Edmonton Food Bank.
The City of Edmonton has outlined two long-term strategies to effectively attack and mitigate the effects of climate change. As a fossil fuel reliant city, Edmonton understands its role in protecting the environment, expanding our knowledge, changing our way of living, and adapting to changes that have already taken place. Now is the time to re-imagine Edmonton and take real actionable transformational change.
Most Edmontonian’s view the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System as the most important feature of our city. It is a vital ecological corridor, a valued recreation destination, a place of incredible cultural significance and a draw for visitors throughout the region. Ribbon of Green is a comprehensive strategic plan for the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System to guide appropriate public use and enjoyment while sustaining and restoring healthy and resilient ecosystems.
In Edmonton, transportation accounts for 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the city plan, our transportation priorities support sustainable mobility choices that support healthy, vibrant, and liveable communities. This includes the expansion of our bike lanes, transition of City of Edmonton bus fleet to electric buses starting in 2020, extension of the LRT (Light Rail Transit System), Electric vehicle roll-out and introduction of electric scooters in 2019.
Explore Edmonton operates the Edmonton Convention Centre which is the first conference venue to receive 5 Green Key Meetings Rating. The Edmonton Convention Centre also has a structured Responsible Events Program, Waste Management Initiatives, Sustainable Urban Permaculture, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, an Urban Beehive, Carbon Offsetting Programs, and is part of a Second Helping Program and has a growing devoted sustainability team.
Additionally, Explore Edmonton is a Climate Smart Certified business and in 2020 was the recipient of the City of Edmonton’s Corporate Climate Leader of the Year award. Explore Edmonton was the recipient of the 2019 Emerald Award in the Large Business Category. This award recognizes organizations who raise the bar in addressing local, regional, and global environmental & climate issues.
Explore Edmonton is now offering the carbon offset program as part of the Responsible Events Program. Though COVID-19 has prevented us from measuring the full extent of the initiatives' impact, we have had great results in engaging audiences with this initiative and we are hopeful that it will continue to gain popularity. We estimate that based off our business events in 2019, we can reduce an average of 579 tCO2e* of emissions per event in the future. Once business begins to stabilize, our goal is to be able to make 20% of all events hosted within our venues Carbon Neutral amounting to a minimum of 3239 tCO2e of emissions that will be offset every year.
Edmonton has made strides to be an active member in our community and its citizens. Edmonton is a community that supports and brings up each other during hardships and troubling times. Our community is resilient and strong – and inherently have an earnest drive to keep doing good for good. As stewards of Edmonton, we are dedicated to ensuring our development and operations continually give back. Most recently, the Edmonton Convention Centre hosted Tipinawâw – which in Cree translates to “sheltered from the outside elements”. Tipinawâw was a safe space that provided support for vulnerable individuals in response to Edmonton’s winters and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Socially distanced and masked, Tipinawâw provided participants with a warm space to sleep, three nutritious meals a day and access to cultural and essential services on their journey to access stable housing. Tipinawâw successfully facilitated more than 90,000 check-ins for access to daytime services and over 35,000 check-ins for overnight access, with 150 individuals successfully achieving long-term housing.
Edmonton also showcases multiple levels of inclusive growth programs and initiatives such as the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation Hospitality Institute, Edmonton Public Library, Inquiring Minds Schools, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, and the Skirts a Fire Festival.
Summary
Edmonton is a city that is constantly growing and making a name for itself in sustainable tourism. As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), we understand that there is a growing need for sustainable and responsible tourism. As our economies continue to open, it is important to focus on the safety and sustainability of our communities, and in turn, tourism.
Sustainability has come to be synonymous with Edmonton. Edmonton has 13km of light rail transit opening in 2022 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2040. Venues across the city are jumping onboard to be a part of the change. Our Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre both launched Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans and are Green Key and Climate Smart Certified. In alignment with our city’s goals, Explore Edmonton is committed to climate resilience and creating social benefit as part of our organizational performance goals. Edmonton was the location of Canada’s first food bank, and we have an ongoing commitment to increasing food security in our city. Our large tourism venues, including our convention centre, exhibition grounds, and arena continue to be major donor organizations to the Edmonton Food Bank.
Does Explore Edmonton have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Edmonton have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Explore Edmonton report on its sustainability performance?
Environmental
The City of Edmonton has outlined two long-term strategies to effectively attack and mitigate the effects of climate change. As a fossil fuel reliant city, Edmonton understands its role in protecting the environment, expanding our knowledge, changing our way of living, and adapting to changes that have already taken place. Now is the time to re-imagine Edmonton and take real actionable transformational change.
Most Edmontonian’s view the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System as the most important feature of our city. It is a vital ecological corridor, a valued recreation destination, a place of incredible cultural significance and a draw for visitors throughout the region. Ribbon of Green is a comprehensive strategic plan for the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System to guide appropriate public use and enjoyment while sustaining and restoring healthy and resilient ecosystems.
In Edmonton, transportation accounts for 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the city plan, our transportation priorities support sustainable mobility choices that support healthy, vibrant, and liveable communities. This includes the expansion of our bike lanes, transition of City of Edmonton bus fleet to electric buses starting in 2020, extension of the LRT (Light Rail Transit System), Electric vehicle roll-out and introduction of electric scooters in 2019.
OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLES
HECTARES OF GREEN AREA PER 100 000 POPULATION
Supplier
Explore Edmonton operates the Edmonton Convention Centre which is the first conference venue to receive 5 Green Key Meetings Rating. The Edmonton Convention Centre also has a structured Responsible Events Program, Waste Management Initiatives, Sustainable Urban Permaculture, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, an Urban Beehive, Carbon Offsetting Programs, and is part of a Second Helping Program and has a growing devoted sustainability team.
Additionally, Explore Edmonton is a Climate Smart Certified business and in 2020 was the recipient of the City of Edmonton’s Corporate Climate Leader of the Year award. Explore Edmonton was the recipient of the 2019 Emerald Award in the Large Business Category. This award recognizes organizations who raise the bar in addressing local, regional, and global environmental & climate issues.
Explore Edmonton is now offering the carbon offset program as part of the Responsible Events Program. Though COVID-19 has prevented us from measuring the full extent of the initiatives' impact, we have had great results in engaging audiences with this initiative and we are hopeful that it will continue to gain popularity. We estimate that based off our business events in 2019, we can reduce an average of 579 tCO2e* of emissions per event in the future. Once business begins to stabilize, our goal is to be able to make 20% of all events hosted within our venues Carbon Neutral amounting to a minimum of 3239 tCO2e of emissions that will be offset every year.
OF HOTEL ROOMS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF VENUES SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED
Social
Edmonton has made strides to be an active member in our community and its citizens. Edmonton is a community that supports and brings up each other during hardships and troubling times. Our community is resilient and strong – and inherently have an earnest drive to keep doing good for good. As stewards of Edmonton, we are dedicated to ensuring our development and operations continually give back. Most recently, the Edmonton Convention Centre hosted Tipinawâw – which in Cree translates to “sheltered from the outside elements”. Tipinawâw was a safe space that provided support for vulnerable individuals in response to Edmonton’s winters and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Socially distanced and masked, Tipinawâw provided participants with a warm space to sleep, three nutritious meals a day and access to cultural and essential services on their journey to access stable housing. Tipinawâw successfully facilitated more than 90,000 check-ins for access to daytime services and over 35,000 check-ins for overnight access, with 150 individuals successfully achieving long-term housing.
Edmonton also showcases multiple levels of inclusive growth programs and initiatives such as the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation Hospitality Institute, Edmonton Public Library, Inquiring Minds Schools, Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, and the Skirts a Fire Festival.
78
SDG IMPLEMENTATION SCORE
91
SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX
74
SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
About the Global Destination Sustainability Movement
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM) brings together the sustainability pioneers of the business and leisure tourism world, working with destinations to co-create their tourism and events strategies, benchmark and improve their sustainability performance and transform value chains in order to catalyse regeneration.
Our purpose is to engage, inspire and enable the business events and tourism industry to become more sustainable and regenerative.
Our Methodology
In 2022 the GDS-Index used 70 indicators that evaluate destinations sustainability performance across four key areas. If you are interested, you can read our benchmarking methodology in detail here.
Environmental
Performance
Climate, Energy and Emissions
Circularity and Waste
Water
Air Quality
Transportation
Biodiversity
Social
Performance
SDG Alignment
Corruption
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Health, Safety and Wellness
Accessibility
Resident Engagement
Supplier
Performance
Hotels
Airport
Agencies (PCOs & DMCs)
Restaurants
Venues
Academia
Destination
Management
Performance
Destination Strategy
Governance and Reporting
Policy and Certification
Capacity Building
Measurement, Impact and Reporting
Marketing and Communications
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Ownership
The GDSM is not owned by any one organisation. It is operated as a multi-stakeholder partnership founded and endorsed by IMEX, MCI, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA). Gubi Consulting and Guy Bigwood are responsible for the management of the Secretariat.
