Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZ)

The document introduces Environmental Improvement Zones (EIZs) as a community-based framework for implementing environmental strategies in Winnipeg. It outlines baseline data and recommended activities across seven key areas: climate change/air quality, urban energy, land use, transportation, waste management, water management, and pesticide use. The guide details pilot results from three diverse neighbourhoods—Whyte Ridge, Riverview, and West Broadway—demonstrating that environmental priorities vary significantly by socio-economic profile and urban layout. It argues that a neighbourhood-scale approach using community-based social marketing (CBSM) is more effective for long-term behaviour change than city-wide, 'one size fits all' programming.

• Winnipeg's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are 8 tonnes per year, which is lower than other prairie cities like Regina (13.3) and Edmonton (16.13).
• Energy consumption in Manitoba has improved relative to the national average, with a 30 per cent overall reduction in energy intensity from 1982 to 2001, though the transportation sector remains heavily dependent on refined petroleum products (99%).
• Winnipeg's urban forest contains an estimated 2.73 million trees, including nearly 170,000 elm trees, which constitutes the largest remaining mature urban elm forest in North America.
• Traffic congestion is a primary concern for citizens; Winnipeg's average round-trip car commute is 51 minutes, exceeding the Canadian major city average of 48 minutes.
• Residential solid waste in Winnipeg totals approximately 140,017 tonnes annually, with residents diverting about 50% of available recyclables from landfills.
• While Winnipeg's per capita water consumption is lower than several other Canadian cities, it remains among the highest in the world.
• Public attitudes toward pesticides are contradictory: 89% of polled citizens support environmentally friendly alternatives, yet a separate survey found 53.7% of respondents use herbicides on their properties.
• Pilot results from Whyte Ridge, a wealthy suburban area, highlight a high reliance on automobiles (85.7% for the labour force) and a lack of pedestrian infrastructure, with transit accessibility receiving the lowest priority score (2.0/5).
• The Riverview pilot showed a community with high environmental capacity and a strong correlation between the local environment and personal well-being (4.4/5), with high concerns regarding pesticide use (4.3/5).
• The West Broadway pilot revealed a high incidence of rental properties (93.8%) and low household incomes, leading to priorities focused on affordable housing, the need for more green space, and issues with 'auto dumpsters' acting as fire and rodent hazards.

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} }