As an environmental lawyer, Brenda Heelan Powell is committed to finding solutions to bridge the gap between development and sustainability.
Law and policy are the tools of her trade as staff counsel at the Environmental Law Centre. The advocacy and law reform charity has been operating in Edmonton since 1982 and became an affiliated institute of the 51ÁÔÆæ’s Faculty of Law in 2023.
Heelan Powell and two other faculty members will speak at an SDG Month event on March 11. The event will explore whether federal or provincial assessment laws can drive development in a way that serves the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. (Register ; more details are below.)
She answered a few questions for Sustainability in Action, a new conversation series with U of A change makers whose research, programs or projects are moving the needle on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
How do you describe your work to people who aren’t in your field?
As one of the lawyers at the (ELC), I work on environmental law and policy research projects. Some are designed to educate and empower others to effectively understand and use law and policy in their own environmental advocacy work. Others consist of regulatory evaluations of existing law and policy — including identifying gaps — so that the ELC can make recommendations and advocate for strong environmental laws and rights in Alberta.
Which SDG(s) does your work primarily address and in what ways?
Over the years, I have worked on a broad range of environmental law issues, touching on several SDGs. I have done a fair bit of work around programs to facilitate financing of energy-efficient retrofits in homes and other buildings, so that relates to SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (climate action). Given that much of my past and current focus is on landscape-level planning and conservation, SDG 15 (life on land) is particularly relevant to my work at the ELC. And, as an environmental law organization, SDG 16, which addresses peace, justice and strong institutions, informs all our work.
Can you share a moment when you saw the direct impact of your work on advancing the SDGs?
Changes to law and policy can take years, so patience is required! Probably the clearest moment for me was the addition of clear environmental principles into the Municipal Government Act, the legislation that governs the actions of municipalities. The changes gave municipalities express authority to address environmental issues, moving the needle toward more sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
What partnerships or collaborations have you formed to enhance the impact of your work?
The ELC recently became an affiliated institute of the Faculty of Law at U of A and we look forward to future partnerships with the faculty and possibilities of interdisciplinary work with other faculties.
Was there a person, initiative or event that inspired you to pursue work that contributes to sustainable development?
I was definitely inspired during my time as an undergraduate science student at the U of A. At that time, there were concerns around proposed developments in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, forestry operations in Alberta and elsewhere, and climate change (the Kyoto Accord had just been signed). These events and my background in science (as well as a few presentations by David Schindler) led me to pursue environmental law and policy work.
What's next for you?
My hope is to continue with the good work being done at the ELC. Law and policy can be powerful foundations for achieving global SDGs.
Does your work help advance the SDGs? Let us know and we might feature it in an upcoming edition of Sustainability in Action. Find more SDG inspiration on the SDG Info Hub.
Heelan Powell and the Faculty of Law’s Adebayo Majekolagbe and Andrew Leach will speak at the following event during SDG Month in March. Find more free workshops, panels and events at .
An (Un)Sustainable Constitution?
Can impact assessments bring "sustainability" to development under Canada's Constitution?
Sustainability and the environment are not mentioned in the Canadian Constitution and a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision raises the question of whether the goal of sustainable development can be achieved through our impact assessment laws. Join the Faculty of Law and the Environmental Law Centre to unpack the question: Can federal or provincial assessment laws drive how society develops in a way that serves the sustainable development goals?
March 11, 2025, 12 - 1 p.m.
Law Centre, McLennan Ross Hall (Room 231/237), U of A
Register .
