Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ)

This guide proposes the implementation of Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) in Winnipeg to enable neighbourhoods to develop local action plans for environmental sustainability. Based on the 'Sustainable Winnipeg' strategy, the guide outlines key environmental issues—including climate change, urban energy, land use, transportation, waste, water, and pesticides—and details pilot results from three diverse neighbourhoods: Whyte Ridge, Riverview, and West Broadway. It advocates for a shift from 'one size fits all' municipal programming toward community-based social marketing (CBSM) to foster long-term behaviour change.

• Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) are proposed as a framework to allow Winnipeg neighbourhoods to create local action plans to address environmental issues, building on the 'Sustainable Winnipeg: A Comprehensive Environmental Strategy'.
• The guide advocates for the use of community-based social marketing (CBSM) over traditional information campaigns, arguing that behaviour change is most effective when carried out at the community level through direct contact.
• Winnipeg's greenhouse gas emissions are 8 tonnes per capita per year, which is lower than other prairie cities like Regina (13.3) and Edmonton (16.13).
• Energy consumption in Manitoba showed a 17 per cent reduction in energy intensity from 1996 to 2001 and a 30 per cent overall reduction from 1982 to 2001.
• Winnipeg's urban forest contains an estimated 2.73 million trees, including nearly 170,000 elm trees, which is the largest remaining mature urban elm forest in North America.
• Commuting times in Winnipeg average 51 minutes for a round trip by car, which is higher than the Canadian major city average of 48 minutes.
• Winnipeg households produce approximately 140,017 tonnes of residential solid waste annually, with about 50% of available recyclables diverted from landfills.
• Winnipeg's potable water is sourced from Shoal Lake via a 185 kilometre aqueduct; between 1998 and 2001, water consumption decreased by 27.5%, from 300 to 218 megalitres per day.
• Pilot results from Whyte Ridge, a wealthy suburban area, highlighted a lack of accessible mass transit and a desire for more youth-focused environmental education.
• Pilot results from Riverview showed a high level of existing community capacity for sustainability and a strong correlation between the local environment and residents' feelings about their neighbourhood.
• Pilot results from West Broadway revealed a tension between the need for affordable housing and the lack of available green space, alongside concerns about 'environmental poverty'.

APA

Willard, T., Miko, R., Cunningham, D., Moore, K., & Garcia, E. (2005). Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ). International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/communities_eiz_guide.pdf

Chicago

Willard, Terri, Roselle Miko, Dennis Cunningham, Kelly Moore, and Eduardo Garcia. Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ). International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/communities_eiz_guide.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Willard |first1=Terri |last2=Miko |first2=Roselle |last3=Cunningham |first3=Dennis |last4=Moore |first4=Kelly |last5=Garcia |first5=Eduardo |title=Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ) |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/communities_eiz_guide.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{willard2005environmental, author = {Willard, Terri and Miko, Roselle and Cunningham, Dennis and Moore, Kelly and Garcia, Eduardo}, title = {{Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ)}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/communities_eiz_guide.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }