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TRANSPORTATION - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Transport Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy - An Update

Transport Canada, like all federal government departments, is required to table its second Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) in Parliament by December 2000. Transport Canada's first such strategy, tabled in 1997, was designed to help foster a sustainable transportation system - one that is safe, efficient and environmentally sound for Canada's present and future generations. To this end, Transport Canada identified eight major challenges and 47 areas for action. Table 5-5 lists the eight challenges.

In the fall of 1999, Transport Canada developed a Sustainable Development Action Plan, to turn the department's commitments into action.Note 2 There are three areas of notable accomplishments.

• Moving on Sustainable Transportation (MOST) Program - The Minister of Transport launched this program in September 1999.Note 3 It provides $1 million over three years to encourage projects from environmental, industry, academic and other groups that: 
  - stimulate the development of innovative tools, approaches and practices in increasing the sustainability of Canada's transportation system;
  - realize quantifiable results on Transport Canada's sustainable development priorities; and
  - provide Canadians with practical information and tools in better applying sustainable transportation thinking to their daily lives.
• Environmental Management System (EMS) - In 1999, Transport Canada's Environmental Management System was expanded to include a broader scope of departmental activities and operations. The first annual report on Transport Canada's Environmental Management SystemNote 4 was published in March 1999. It details achievements in greening the department's internal operations. Highlights in EMS implementation for 1999 include:
  - The replacement of 20 fleet vehicles with alternative-fuel vehicles.
  - The upgrade of ozone depleting substances inventory to an online database.
  - A commuting survey of Transport Canada headquarters' employees, which indicates almost 70 per cent of employees are walking, biking or taking the bus to work.
  - A partnership with the Canadian Standards Association has resulted in the publication of the CSA document Guide to the implementation of ISO 14001 at Airports in October 1999. This guide is to help airport operators in Canada achieve conformance with the international standard.

Transport Canada is committed to identify and manage contamination at all of its properties by 2003. Transport Canada has identified 610 contaminated sites of which 533 are confirmed contaminated and 77 are suspected. Most of these sites are small spill areas that pose no threat to the environment or health. Transport Canada has made significant progress in this endeavour and will continue to invest resources in the identification, evaluation, clean up and reporting of its contaminated sites. In the three fiscal years ending in 1999, Transport Canada spent a total of $22 million on assessments and $12 million on remediation.

• Sustainable Development Performance Indicators - Transport Canada undertook an extensive internal exercise to develop a draft set of performance indicators for its eight sustainable development challenges. The resulting draft set of internal performance indicators will give Transport Canada a better way to measure progress toward implementing its commitments, as well as assisting in the development of concrete action plans for its 2000 Sustainable Development Strategy.

Cleaner Air

Most air pollution is caused by the fossil fuels burned in vehicles, homes, thermal power plants and factories. Many chemicals have been identified in urban air pollution. A small number of these have been found to contribute to a range of air quality problems in Canada. These pollutants include nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). In 1995, it was established that 57 per cent of NOX emissions, 67 per cent of CO, five per cent of SO2, 20 per cent of PM and 28 per cent of VOCs in Canada were attributable to transportation. When some of them combine, they produce smog or acid rain.

Smog

Transport Canada has participated in the development of Canada-wide standards to deal with priority pollutants that contribute to smog. In the fall of 1999, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) accepted, in principle, the recommended Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone. These standards set numerical air quality targets to protect the environment, to reduce the risk to human health, and to demonstrate the commitment and importance of federal, provincial and territorial co-operation to take action.

Sulphur in Gasoline

In 1999, Environment Canada announced that new regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act were approved, phasing in a limit of 30 parts-per-million of sulphur content in gasoline by January 1, 2005, a reduction of more than 90 per cent. It is estimated that over 20 years, low sulphur gasoline will prevent over 2,100 premature deaths, 93,000 incidences of bronchitis in children, five million other health related incidents such as asthma attacks, and 11 million acute respiratory symptoms such as coughs, pneumonia and croup.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has developed its eighth protocol under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). This new and innovative multi-effect, multi-pollutant protocol amounts to an international agreement to reduce smog. In developing Canada's position for the protocol negotiations, Transport Canada assisted in determining the submission for mobile source emissions. Canada and the United States expect significant health and environmental benefits from the implementation of programs to reduce SO2, NOX and VOC emissions as well as from the ozone annex being negotiated under the Canada-US Air Quality Agreement.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Nitrogen Oxides

In February 1999, the International Civil Aviation Organization approved changes to its regulations that will reduce nitrogen oxide emission levels by 16 per cent for engines produced after December 31, 2003. Al1 changes to ICAO regulations are implemented in Canada through the Canadian Aviation Regulations administered by Transport Canada.

The industry predicts annual improvements in fuel efficiency of one per cent a year, due to improved technology and operating procedures. However, growth estimates for the industry range from one per cent to two per cent a year. Reductions in emissions per kilometre from existing aircraft will likely therefore be offset by increases in distances travelled. The net effect over time could be a steady emission rate or increased emissions from aircraft. The challenge is to continue working with the ICAO to further reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the aviation sector and to add requirements to control particulate matter emissions.

Emission reductions are also possible from ground support activities in this sector. Transport Canada participates on the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection working group, which is focusing on the reduction of emissions at airports and from aircraft. This working group will also promote operational opportunities for this sector through international standards and guidelines.

Vehicle Emissions Inspection Clinics

In the summer of 1999, Transport Canada once again partnered with Environment Canada to conduct Vehicle Emissions Inspection Clinics across Canada. The primary objective of the clinics is to raise awareness of on-road vehicles' contribution to smog-causing emissions.

Low-speed Vehicles

Low-speed Vehicles (LSVs) are four-wheeled electric vehicles which have a minimum attainable speed of 32 kilometres per hour and a maximum of 40 kilometres per hour. Due to the smaller size and the reduced mass of LSVs, there is a potential for significant reduction in energy consumption when an LSV is used in lieu of the passenger car. In addition, the Canadian definition for LSVs will require that they be electrically driven, effectively providing a zero emission vehicle with significantly reduced noise levels in comparison to a passenger car. Canada Gazette Part II is being finalized which will amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to introduce LSVs as a new class of vehicle in Canada.

Railway Safety Act - Environmental Protection and Emissions Control

With the amendment of the Railway Safety Act which came into force on June 1, 1999, Transport Canada now has the authority to regulate the release of pollutants into the environment from the operation of railway equipment, with the intent to contribute to the environmental sustainability of the rail transportation industry.

Transport Canada's Railway Safety Directorate is in the process of developing a strategy to respond to the amendment of the Railway Safety Act and determining the nature and the extent of a possible environmental rail safety program. The Railway Safety Directorate is also considering alternate methods to the establishment of emissions regulations.

TRANSPORTATION - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Transportation and Climate Change

Transport Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy - An Update

Legislation Aimed at Improving Environmental Quality

Energy Demand

Looking Ahead