Interim Plan 2001 on Particulate Matter and Ozone: chapter 2.2


2.2 Transportation

Transportation is essential to Canada's economic and social fabric, bringing people and goods together across our large country. No sector of the economy could function without an effective transportation system. Transportation, however, also affects the quality of our air, water and land. Canadians expect a safe and efficient transportation system, but they also want a clean environment. Balancing these economic and social needs with the need to protect the environment is central to the concept of sustainable development.

The Government of Canada is addressing emissions from this sector in a variety of ways. Some of the initiatives include:

Further initiatives are also planned to reduce transportation emissions. Under the federal government's cleaner vehicles and fuels agenda, announced in February 2001, current regulated vehicle standards will be replaced by new standards that will reduce NOX emissions by approximately 88 per cent from passenger cars and up to 95 per cent for light-duty trucks, including sport/utility vehicles (SUVs). Another important goal of the new regulatory regime in both Canada and the United States is to bring the performance standards for light-duty trucks in line with those for passenger cars.

Vehicles and Engines

cars on highway

Fuels

Environment Canada will continue its general approach of aligning Canadian fuel requirements with those in the United States. In some cases, however, additional measures may be warranted. Initiatives include:

Full details on the contents of the Government's Notice of Intent for Cleaner Vehicles and Cleaner Fuels are available on Environment Canada's website.

Marine

International controls will be developed through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the sulphur content of marine bunker oils and international standards for NOX emissions. Current IMO proposals limit the sulphur content of marine fuels to 4.5 per cent and only a small amount of fuel currently used is above that level. The IMO process could create Special Areas where sulphur levels are restricted to 1.5 per cent. One example is the Greater Vancouver Regional District, where Transport Canada and Environment Canada have been asked to begin the process of declaring the west coast a Special Area.

Aviation

plane on final approach

Aircraft emissions and operational practices that affect local air quality will be addressed by Transport Canada and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Possible future areas of action

Strategic expansion of rail traffic in major corridors, including shifts of freight and passengers from other modes, could become a key component of national transportation demand management.This could increase rail's market share, thereby helping to reduce overall emissions from the shipment of goods.

Given the new responsibility undertaken by Transport Canada to regulate air emissions and pollution from railway equipment,Transport Canada is exploring means to fulfill this new regulatory capacity, including investigating technology options for rail and establishing a technical working group on emissions control.

Marine transportation contributes to sulphur oxides (SOX) and NOX emissions in Canada. Canada's aim is to implement policies and regulations on marine air pollution under the Canada Shipping Act to reduce harmful air emissions from ships.

Air traffic around the world continues to increase rapidly. Further to Transport Canada's work with ICAO, consideration is being given to building partnerships with airport authorities to reduce emissions at airports. As well, research needs to be undertaken to assess the impact of emissions on the atmosphere in Canadian airspace, including Canada's polar region.

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