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Canada - United States Air Quality Agreement

2002 Progress Report

SECTION I  Introduction

The 2002 Progress Report is the sixth report under the 1991 Canada—U.S. Air Quality Agreement and the first to address new requirements under the Ozone Annex (Annex III), signed by Canada and the United States in Washington in December 2000. This report highlights actions undertaken by Canada and the United States in the last two years to address transboundary air pollution under the Agreement—namely, acid rain and ground-level ozone. The report, prepared by the bilateral Air Quality Committee (AQC), builds on previous progress reports and includes the second five-year comprehensive review of the Air Quality Agreement.

Actions to address acid rain in the last two years have been significant both in the United States and in Canada. In Canada, total sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions are already 20% below the national emission cap commitment of 3.2 million tonnes. New emission reduction targets have been set for SO₂ under the Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000. In addition, the Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter (PM) will result in further reductions. The United States has achieved a reduction in SO₂ emissions of about 35% when compared with 1980 levels. Full implementation in 2010 will result in a 10-million-ton reduction of SO₂ emissions, approximately 40% below 1980 levels.

The amendments to the Air Quality Agreement to address ground-level ozone were comprehensive and far-reaching. Based on the domestic legislation adopted by each country to achieve long-term ozone reduction, the amendments committed the Parties to aggressive measures to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the precursors to ground-level ozone and contributors to transboundary air pollution. To track progress and report to the public, the Ozone Annex set in place commitments to report the ozone air quality levels from ambient air quality monitors within 500 kilometres (km) of the U.S.—Canada border starting in 2002 and industrial facility emissions starting in 2004. The first of these air quality reports is contained on pages 26-28 and 56-58 of the 2002 Progress Report. Finally, the Ozone Annex made new commitments to undertake joint research and technical work that will support the reduction of emissions and the achievement of the air quality standards.

Joint work resulting from the 1997 Joint Plan of Action for Addressing Transboundary Air Pollution on ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM) led to the Ozone Annex. Cooperative efforts to address transboundary PM are now underway and are reported in the 2002 Progress Report. The Report also outlines cooperative efforts on acid deposition monitoring, emissions inventories and forecasts, and air quality programs in both countries.

The second five-year comprehensive review of the Air Quality Agreement is set in the context of an amended, enhanced cooperative Agreement. Clearly, the fact that the Ozone Annex was negotiated and addresses an issue of concern to both Parties demonstrates that the Agreement can be a valuable instrument for bilateral cooperation. The review addresses issues raised in 1996 when the first review was undertaken, outlines where progress has been made, and indicates where challenges continue to exist.

Note: Canadian spelling is used throughout. Future reports will alternate the use of Canadian and American spelling.