Overview

Canada's air quality is affected by pollutants that come largely from the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, homes, power plants, smelters, and other industries. While average air pollution levels in Canada have improved over the last 25 years, smog remains a serious health concern in a number of urban areas. These activities also increase the amounts of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. This human-induced enhanced greenhouse effect contributes to global climate change and the negative environmental, social and economic consequences associated with it. Air is also a major pathway for chemicals to enter the Great Lakes. Research shows that atmospheric deposition is contributing significantly to water pollution in the Great Lakes.

ISSUES
AGREEMENTS AND LEGISLATION
PROGRAMS
REPORTS AND GUIDELINES
DATA

ISSUES

• Air Quality Index
  Go to this site for air quality forecasts and smog alerts
• Clean Air Online
  Environment Canada's clean air and health site
• Climate Change
  Learn about the science, impacts and adaptation to climate change and how individuals, governments, businesses, industry and communities are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Ozone
  Provides information on ozone layer depletion, approaches to protect the ozone layer, as well as information on a number of other topics

AGREEMENTS AND LEGISLATION

• Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement
  Instrument to address shared concerns regarding transboundary air pollution
• Canada-U.S. Border Air Quality Strategy
  Strategy to strengthen cooperation to deal with air quality
• Also see Health Canada's page on the Canada-U.S. Border Air Quality Strategy
• Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Addressing Climate Change
  Between Canada and Ontario to coordinate their respective efforts in developing and implementing policies and measures designed to address climate change

PROGRAMS

• Burn-it Smart
  Program to make their wood-burning habits safer, cleaner, and more efficient
  
• Clean Air Day
  The Government of Canada proclaimed Clean Air Day in 1999 to increase public awareness and action on two key environmental priorities: clean air and climate change
  
• EcoAction
  Program providing financial support to community groups and non-profits for action-oriented projects that address Environment Canada's priority issues such as Clean Air and Climate Change
  

REPORTS AND GUIDELINES

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reports
• Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) - Resources and Reports
• International Air Quality Advisory Board Reports
• National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) - Data and Reports
  
• Progress under the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement Reports

DATA

• Data and Information
  Search this data portal to find data and information on air issues