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9.0 Anti-Smog Action Plan progress summary

The Anti-Smog Action Plan process has focused on the organization of work groups, the identification and documentation of work in progress, quick starts, actual emission reductions and long-term plans. Some work groups are in the early stages of formation while other groups are in advanced stages of action affecting smog reductions. Owing to the constraints identified in this report, no attempt has been made to quantify Ontario's total emissions reductions at this time.

This report lays out areas in which considerable progress has been made in both strengthening the foundation for the Plan's implementation and in terms of actual emission reductions. Its intent is to provide an accountability framework for participants who have entered into voluntary agreements with the government. The progress assessment's findings:

In the area of emission reductions:

• Calculating accurate emission reductions is proving complex. Without a set of consistent protocols, partners are reporting emissions inventories based on varying parameters and assumptions. Focus needs to be placed on the Performance Monitoring Work Group's efforts toward the implementation of a disciplined management policy. Further progress reports will need to provide a comprehensive science-based analysis of emissions and emission reductions.
  
  
• In the area of particulate matter, while the federal government has initiated strategic options processes, these will need to move forward more rapidly with industry's support if targets are to be confirmed and met.
  
  
• In the area of public engagement, there are strong signs of broader community awareness in light of Drive Clean. Activity by environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) remains high in terms of broadening public awareness. However, the energy and resources placed on this initiative as a result of the smog plan itself are minimal. Improved integration between ASAP and other clean-air initiatives is needed.
  
  
• The Partnership agreed in its initial plan that the issues of level playing field, incentives and rewards need to be addressed for the plan to work. With the exception of the Pilot Emission Reduction Trading Project, an industry-led activity resulting directly from the smog plan, these areas still need considerable attention. The ongoing involvement of the Ministry of the Environment as an overseer of Emission Reduction Tracking (ERT) is essential to its success.

Report 1998—Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

Recommendation 12

MOE should develop programs to reduce smogcausing pollutants from area sources and industrial emissions, update its regulatory standards for air contaminants, and allocate sufficient human and financial resources to ensure rigorous enforcement of all air pollution regulations and standards.

More work is needed in some areas

• The Plan's priority focus for this reporting period was on developing Ontario's readiness to reduce particulate matter emissions, on public engagement and environmental monitoring and reporting. The following sectors, groups or agencies could provide an integrated function with the Ontario Smog Accord for more effective and efficient reduction of smog precursors and overall improvement to Ontario's air quality.
  • Transportation Demand Management
  • Off-road Vehicles
  • Heavy Equipment Surface Coating
  • Pesticide Formulation
  • Pulp and Paper
  • Natural Oil Extraction
  • Wood Treatment
  • Rubber Treatment
  • Asphalt (solid)

These areas should be examined in the next phase of the Anti-Smog Action Plan.

In the area of planning

• The Plan's partnership has yet to engage its broader constituencies. While key players from the major sectors are engaged in the process and committed to action, and other sectors are coming on board, the level of awareness in individual company members of these sector-based associations remains relatively low.
  
  
• The Operating Committee has identified the need for continued strengthening of the planning process. A number of Memorandums of Understanding are being negotiated, and giving priority to their completion would provide a strong indication of partners' commitment to the Plan.

In the area of reporting:

• The success of this Plan can be measured only by the achievement of specified goals and objectives. While the foundation for planning and implementation has significantly improved, the voluntary reporting process is becoming increasingly complex. In the light of the numerous players in the ASAP Partnership, as noted earlier, there are inconsistencies in data collection and reporting methodologies; data gaps in sectors; unconfirmed baseline information; complex categorization and re-categorization of sectors and sub-sectors. It is important that methods are implemented quickly which enable accurate reporting on emissions reductions.

Reporting requirements for all electric power generation companies and their facilities in Ontario's electricity sector to report annually on their emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and a variety of other substances of concern such as mercury and carbon dioxide (CO2) were announced on January 24, 2000. These requirements are intended to take place in May 2000.

[Note: starting January 1, 2001, the Ontario government will begin to require reporting of emissions for all companies and organizations in Ontario's commercial, industrial, private and public sectors.]

• The Particulate Matter and Ozone Options Assessment Working Group is examining additional data that will be needed to ensure participants that ASAP programs and emission reduction strategies are developed and prioritized on the basis of quality data, sound science and fairness while ensuring solution flexibility and harmonization with other jurisdictions. At a minimum, such data should include: emission sources; annual emissions, current production and emission control technologies; alternative cleaner production processes; alternative more effective and lower cost emission control technologies; and the capital and annual operating costs of emission reduction.

In the area of U.S.-Ontario transboundary air pollution

• More than 50 per cent of the pollutants that cause Ontario's smog and acid rain come from sources in the United States. Ontario should continue pressing the U.S. to reduce emissions and, in doing so, continue the commitment to meeting or exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Taken as a system, Ontario's electricity sector is already cleaner than those in the U.S. because Ontario relies less on coal and more on nuclear and hydraulic generation.



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