2014 Air Quality Agreement Progress Report
Date
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The comment period closed on July 31, 2015. Thank you for your comments. Comments have been compiled and are available on this page.

 

Cover of the 2014 Air Quality Progress Report

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is interested in your views on the important work being carried out under the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement.  You can find the 2014 Air Quality Agreement Progress Report here.

  • What do you think about the ongoing efforts of our two countries to address transboundary air quality?
  • What issues do you think should have the highest priority?
  • What do you think about the information provided in this report?

Under the Air Quality Agreement, the IJC invites public comment and provides a synthesis of comments to the governments of Canada and the United States, to assist them with implementing the Agreement. The IJC invites you to send written comments on this report until July 31, 2015, to either address below:

 

Canadian Section Office

Secretary, Canadian Section
International Joint Commission
234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6K6  Canada 

    About the Agreement

    The United States and Canada signed the 1991 United States–Canada Air Quality Agreement (AQA) to reduce the impact of transboundary air pollution.

    The Acid Rain Annex, negotiated with the original 1991 agreement, committed both the United States and Canada to reducing acid rain-causing emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). Since this time, there have been large reductions in SO2 and NOXemissions on both sides of the border with subsequent reductions in ecosystem acidification and improvements in air quality. For example, the United States has reduced total SO2 emissions from covered sources by 67 percent in 2010 from their 1990 levels while Canada’s total SO2 emissions have decreased by 57 percent in 2010 from 1990 emission levels.

    The Ozone Annex, added to the Agreement in 2000, committed the countries to reducing emissions of NOX and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the precursors to ground level ozone, a key component of smog. Between 2000 and 2010, the United States has reduced total NOX emissions by 42 percent in the transboundary ozone region while Canada’s total NOX emissions decreased by 40 percent in the region.

    Resources: