Clean Air Day 2018

Wednesday, June 6, is Clean Air Day!  This is a day to celebrate clean air and good health. It’s also a day to recognize how important good air quality is to our health, our environment, and the economy.

Many communities and organizations host Clean Air Day events and activities. These help promote simple actions and lifestyle choices Canadians can take to reduce air pollution.

Clean Air Day events

Join in Clean Air Day activities happening across the country.

• June 4 to 5
  • North Central BC Clean Air Forum (Prince George, British Columbia)
• June 6
  • Active and Safe Routes to School   (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
  • Parkland Airshed Management Zone Blue Skies Awards ceremony (Red Deer, Alberta)
  • Clean Air Day activities in Edmonton (Alberta)
  • Clean Air Day activities in Red Deer (Alberta)
  • Global to Local... the Air we share – Science on a Sphere (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
• June 16
  • Cycling Bike Rides  (London, Ontario)
• June 23
  • Bike the Creek (Brampton, Ontario)
• Throughout June
  • Bike Month (Greater Toronto and Hamilton, and Guelph, Ontario)
  • Walk and Roll (Cornwall, Ontario)

Canada’s air quality

Canada’s air quality has improved significantly over the last several decades. This is largely due to federal, provincial and territorial governments working together to reduce air pollution from vehicles, power plants, and industries across the country.

Reducing harmful emissions is improving air quality in Canada and reducing health issues related to air pollution, such as asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Each year, over 14,000 premature deaths in Canada are linked to air pollution from human activity.  Reducing air pollution also helps the economy by enabling Canadian families and businesses to avoid health-related expenses and missed work.

Government of Canada actions to protect the air

We continue to work hard to educate and create awareness of the environmental and health impacts of air pollution. Our scientists and researchers continue to study air quality issues in Canada. Their work helps to inform next steps by the Government of Canada, to further reduce the risk of air pollution to the health of Canadians and the environment. Some recent highlights include:

• setting stricter ambient air quality standards for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide which will contribute to cleaner air by reducing the formation of fine particulate matter and smog
  • the new standards will also help reduce environmental impacts like acid rain
• as part of Canada’s climate plan, we announced our proposal regulations to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2030
  • by reducing our exposure to harmful air pollutants from coal plants, the phase-out will also improve the quality of the air we breathe
  • air pollution from coal plants is linked to health risks, such as asthma and heart disease, which can lead to hospital admissions and contribute to premature deaths
• Canada is currently finalizing national regulations to reduce some types of air pollutant emissions from the petroleum and petrochemical sectors—including refineries
• stricter regulations to reduce air pollutants from small gasoline engines, such as lawnmowers and garden equipment that are used by millions of Canadians
• publishing a new State of the Air report in partnership with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), to inform Canadians about air quality across Canada, air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment
  • find out more about CCME’s State of the Air report
• expanding the daily Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to more communities across Canada to help Canadians protect their health during increased levels of air pollution
  • this spring we launched forecasts for three new communities in Nunavut

As we celebrate Canada’s clean air, we must continue to actively protect it.