Smog Workshop –
Federal & Provincial
Smog Policy Update
John Wellner
Director, Health Policy, OMA
Recent Smog News
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“green-speaking” provincial
government
More smog than ever
New chronic health effects
information
Quantification of cross-border
effects
Climate change focus
Ontario Nitrogen Oxides Emissions by Sector
(Emissions from Human Activity, 2001 Estimates)
Primary Metals 3%
Road Vehicles
33%
Miscellaneous Area
Sources 8%
Other Processes 11%
Utilities
15%
Other Transportation
30%
Ontario VOC Emissions by Sector
(Emissions from Human Activity, 2001 Estimates)
General Solvent Use
24%
Other Transportation 11%
Other Processes 17%
Surface Coating 10%
Residential 12%
Miscellaneous Area
Sources 8%
Road Vehicles 18%
SO2 Emissions (2001)
Provincial Smog
Policies/Initiatives:
1) Coal Phase-Out
2) Industry Emissions – IERP
3) Drive Clean
Coal-Plant Phase-Out
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Coal-fired power plants the largest
industrial source of NOx , CO2 , significant
Hg & SO2
Election promise for phase-out by 2007
Plan announced (summer ’05) for 2007 &
2009
Significant pressure to scrap this promise
(from media commentators, opposition
parties, large industry, even some quasienvironmentalists)
Big debates: “Clean coal” and nuclear
energy
Coal Phase-Out Plan
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Lakeview GS in Mississauga (2005)
Lambton, Thunder Bay, Atikokan
(2007)
Nanticoke GS (2009)
Industry Emissions Reduction
Plan
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Long history – Ontario Smog Plan,
ASAP, CAPI, IERP many Ministers, 3
premiers …
IERP NOx & SO2 from key industries
But in 10 years, IERP only asks for 1%
NOx & 8% SO2 reductions
Emissions trading loopholes may mean
even less improvement
improved health = overall, net
emissions reductions
Drive Clean & other Provincial
Vehicle Emissions Initiatives
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After considerable criticism, Drive
Clean program was recently rejigged
Newer cars exempt, stricter on old
ones
Target emission reductions = 22%
Modal shift, carpool lanes, transit,
gas tax, anti-idling, etc.
Federal Programs
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Low-Sulphur Gasoline
(30 ppm in 2005, a 90% reduction)
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Low-Sulphur Diesel
(15 ppm in June 2006, previously 500 ppm & higher)
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Canada-wide Smog Standards
Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement
Kyoto
CEPA
Where’s that leave us?
(How’s the air out there?)
One-Hour Ozone Exceedances across Ontario
(2003)
Trend of Ozone One-Hour Maximum
Concentrations in Ontario
(1980 - 2003)
Trend of Ozone Annual Means for Urban and
Rural Ontario
(1990 - 2003)
Number of Ozone "Episode Days" in Ontario
(1980 - 2003)
What to Expect in 2006
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New Air Quality Health Index pilot
projects
More debate on coal plants
Low-sulphur on-road diesel
Ontario initiatives on cross-border
smog
A Federal Clean Air Act?
CEPA review
For further questions -
My Contact Information:
john_wellner@oma.org
416-340-2953 or
800-268-7215 ext. 2953