The limit would apply to the city centre, main shopping streets and residential areas and follows a successful pilot in the Marchmont, Grange and Prestonfield areas of the city last year. The move would make Edinburgh the first city in Scotland to do so.
The council is also looking to reduce the speed limit for roads with houses or businesses fronting them from 40mph to 30mph.
The action forms part of a new five-year transport policy document approved by councillors. Other actions in the Local Transport Strategy (LTS) sets out a number of key actions intended to reduce carbon emissions, increase the city's resilience to the impact of climate change and support sustainable and active travel.
The LTS also includes a commitment to prepare detailed proposals for the introduction of parking and loading restrictions on the main road network on Sundays, for at least part of the day.
The document also covers measures include looking to encourage firms to offer travel planning services, with the City of Edinburgh Council itself to support the development of flexible working lifestyles including homeworking and teleworking, and to facilitate the operation and expansion of car clubs.
The document also says the council will assess the potential for the introduction of emission control measures, based on emerging guidance from UK and Scottish Governments, in partnership with bus and heavy goods vehicles operators. Options will be developed during 2014 in consultation with relevant partners and businesses. Any proposals will be subject to public consultation.
Meanwhile the council will prepare an action plan for low emission vehicles. This will include using the Switched on Scotland: A Roadmap to Widespread Adoption of Plug-in vehicles as a guide to advance the adoption of plug-in vehicles in Edinburgh. It will also work with Transport Scotland to progress further opportunities to promote plug-in vehicles within the council and to local residents and businesses.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: ‘We need to make sure we keep Edinburgh moving smartly and efficiently and we look forward to working hard with our partners now to add detail to the vision and to achieve the LTS's challenging objectives.
‘This is undoubtedly quite a radical document but it's also a practical one. We hope people will take ownership of it and think that it's the right way forward.’
