Edmonton’s iconic river valley is home to multiple golf courses, but are these exclusive green spaces the best use of this land? How do golf courses intersect with biodiversity preservation and water conservation?

Learn about golf courses as land use in Edmonton with the University of Alberta’s Arshdeep Kaur and Damian Collins.

For more information check out these resources:

Golf as Land Use: The Case of Edmonton, Alberta

https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/e22a6925-51b2-46b3-9d12-944b58f7b58f

Opinion: Golf courses aren't a fair way to use Edmonton's river valley

https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-golf-courses-arent-a-fair-way-to-use-edmontons-river-valley

Carbon capture and storage is an effective tool in the global effort to mitigate climate change, but many feel this technology is controversial. How does the public feel about cross-border transport and storage of carbon?

Cross-border CO2 transport decreases public acceptance of carbon capture and storage

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02023-0

NORSAR Ensure- Effective monitoring of long-term site stability for transparent carbon capture and storage hazard assessment.

https://ensure.norsar.no/

Across Canada there are 400 thousand abandoned oil and gas wells with over 172 thousand of those in Alberta. With Provincial campaigns yielding underwhelming results, and the high cost of remediation, it’s worth considering other uses for these wells.

Join Mohammad Zolfagharroshan from McGill University to discuss the geothermal energy potential from abandoned oil and gas wells in Alberta on the latest episode of the Land Use Podcast.

For more information check out these resources:

Assessment of geothermal energy potential from abandoned oil and gas wells in Alberta, Canada

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924014867

Oil and gas liabilities management (Government of Alberta)

https://www.alberta.ca/oil-and-gas-liabilities-management

Municipal boundary adjustments like amalgamation and annexation can have a significant impact on municipalities. So why do these boundary adjustments happen? Join Sandeep Agrawal to discuss the recently released book “Municipal Boundary Battles” and learn about the motivations behind boundary adjustments and how municipalities are affected.

For more information check out these resources:

Municipal Boundary Battles

https://ualbertapress.ca/9781772127454/municipal-boundary-battles/

Land annexation in Alberta: what you need to know

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/science/news/2018/november/annexation-in-alberta.html

Urban farms have a number of environmental benefits and have often been discussed as solutions to food security issues, but there is another, less discussed benefit: community building! Find out more from the latest episode of the Land Use Podcast.

With a 2050 net-zero goal on the horizon, Alberta is going to have to turn to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. But how do landowners feel about the development of wind power? Are these perspectives connected to political affiliation? Learn more from our latest podcast episode with John Parkins.

For more information check out these resources:

Unraveling the link between political polarization and wind energy perspectives: Insights from a survey of agricultural landowners in Alberta, Canada: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0958305X231199150

Assessing motivations and barriers to renewable energy development: Insights from a survey of municipal decision-makers in Alberta, Canada: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484723007680

Renewable energy developments in Alberta to face strict new rules: https://www.cbc.ca/news/can

As Alberta faces drought, how do we work with water licence holders to ensure Albertans have access to water? Find out more from our latest podcast episode with Lorraine Nicol.

For more information check out these resources:

Priority? Licence transfers? Here's how Alberta's water system works: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/priority-licence-transfers-here-s-how-alberta-s-water-system-works-drought-1.7115044

Municipal Development and Alberta's Water Management Framework (PDF)(on pg 27): https://www.albertaplanners.com/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/files/PlanNW_Fall2017_WaterIssue_WEB.pdf

Modeling Sustainable Land and Water Policy in Alberta’s Irrigation Sector: https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/research/research-projects/project/Alberta-irrigation-sustainable-land-and-water-policy

Alberta government Water for Life strategy: https://www.alberta.ca/water-for-life-strategy

An increase in greenhouse gasses is the main culprit of climate change around the globe with 50 to 60 per cent of emissions being produced by cities. Find out more about how neighbourhood carbon emissions are contributing in this podcast episode with Nilusha Welegedara.

For more information check out these resources:

Household energy-related carbon footprint in residential neighbourhoods in high-latitude cities: A case of Edmonton in Canada

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670723007084

Exploring spatiotemporal changes of the urban heat Island effect in high-latitude cities at a neighbourhood level: A case of Edmonton, Canada

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670723000148

Variations in direct greenhouse gas emissions across neighbourhoods: A case of Edmonton in Canada

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021002900

What does neighbourhood climate action look like? A scoping literature review

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44168-022-00009-2

Healthy soils are essential for food production, so how can you protect soil health in your garden? Learn about the basics of soil health in this episode based on the “Community Resource Guide: Sustainable Healthy Soils in Alberta” by Sukhwinder Singh, research funded in part by AREF.

For more information on soil health check out these resources:

Community Resource Guide: Sustainable Healthy Soils in Alberta

https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/public/download/files/229346

Soil Health Workshop report

https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/public/download/files/229352

Why should soil health matter to you? Come learn about soil health in Alberta with Sukhwinder Singh! We talk about the state of soil health in Alberta and Canada and how policy could be used to protect soil health.

For more information on soil health check out these resources:

Community Resource Guide: Sustainable Healthy Soils in Alberta

https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/public/download/files/229346

Soil Health Workshop report

https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/public/download/files/229352

Soil Erosion Risk Indicator (Government of Canada)

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/environment/resource-management/indicators/soil-erosion-risk-indicator