Mayor's Report - November 2008

In October 2008, the Metro Vancouver Environment Committee received a progress report on the region’s Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) which requires a progress report every two years and a comprehensive review every five years. The AQMP has implications for all who live in Metro Vancouver and the Lower Fraser Valley, and what follows is a brief synopsis of the first AQMP progress report.

Metro Vancouver approved the AQMP in October 2005 which established a vision of clean and healthy air for current and future generations, and the following three goals:

The AQMP strategies for achieving these goals include:

In addition, Metro Vancouver’s Sustainability Framework includes several strategies and priority goals that are complementary to the AQMP, including the following air quality and climate change mitigation targets:

Particulate Matter

The long-term regional trends in particulate matter (PM) levels indicate some improvement over the last 15 years, although levels in recent years have been relatively constant. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 emissions have levelled-off in recent years, but emissions of two secondary PM precursors --- NH₃ and SO₂ --- are predicted to rise. Current health research indicates that even low levels of particulate matter exposure can be harmful to human health. Current PM levels can also impede regional visibility; therefore, efforts to improve regional ambient PM levels will continue in order to achieve health benefits and improve visibility in the region. Given the growing evidence on its toxicity, efforts to reduce diesel PM have emerged as a priority for Metro Vancouver.

Green House Gases

Preliminary analysis of the mitigation measures announced by the provincial and the federal governments indicate that additional measures are needed to meet the regional target of reducing GHGs by 33% from current levels by 2020. It is also recognized that Metro Vancouver has limited authority over many of the most significant sources of GHGs in the region, and that collaborative efforts with all levels of government are essential to meeting the target. Given the significance of climate actions, policies and associated funding announced by the BC government in 2007 and 2008, it is important that Metro Vancouver’s climate change initiatives/programs be aligned with senior government activities to maximize both the economic and the GHG reduction benefits for the region. It is also important to ensure that climate change policies and GHG reduction efforts will not have negative impacts on air quality but would support the air quality goals of Metro Vancouver.

Actions For Construction, Rail and Agricultural Equipment

The Government of Canada has increased the stringency of regulations pertaining to the sulphur content of diesel fuel sold for use in non-road engines, mandating a decrease to 500 mg/kg as of October 2007 and a further decrease to 15 mg/kg after September 30^th, 2010. Ultra low sulphur diesel (15 mg/kg) has been mandated for on-road vehicles since 2006, and in Metro Vancouver this has meant that most non-road equipment operators are already using cleaner diesel in advance of the requirement by law.

The federal government has plans to amend the regulation for non-road compression-ignition engine emissions to align with US EPA standards. This would require engine manufacturers to produce new engines with advanced emission-control technologies, resulting in a 90% decrease in exhaust emissions. The proposed amendments are expected to be published in 2008.

Actions For Marine Sources

Through the BC Marine Vessel Air Quality Working Group, Metro Vancouver has played an important role in developing and implementing emission reduction measures for marine vessels and port operations. Metro Vancouver has continued to work with port authorities on developing emission reduction measures for trucks, rail and equipment at port facilities.

Metro Vancouver and other air quality agencies encouraged Port Metro Vancouver, Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma to develop their Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. The strategy includes emission reduction performance goals for port-related sources, and represents a cooperative effort amongst the three ports to improve marine-related air quality in the international airshed.

Metro Vancouver has also collaborated with federal government agencies to pursue more stringent ship emission standards under International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. Amendments to IMO regulations were proposed in 2008 and Metro Vancouver has urged the federal government to ratify these amendments under Canadian law.

Actions For Cars, Trucks and Buses

After a thorough program review, AirCare, the Lower Fraser Valley’s emission inspection and maintenance program for light-duty vehicles, has been extended to the end of 2011. Modifications to the program, such as a 7-year exemption for new vehicles and onboard diagnostic testing, were also implemented to provide longer-term emissions reductions while reducing the impact on motorists whose vehicles are least likely to fail.

In early 2008, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways changed the AirCare On-Road Program (ACOR) for heavy-duty diesel vehicles from “voluntary/outreach” mode to enforcement mode. Under the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, vehicles in violation of diesel emission standards may be ticketed and ordered to be repaired and retested.

In consultation with Metro Vancouver and various stakeholders, TransLink adopted an Emissions Policy in 2006 related to: 1) direct emissions from the TransLink fleet of vehicles, rail, and vessels, and 2) overall regional transportation emissions which can be influenced by TransLink’s programs. As part of this policy, TransLink has committed to purchase clean/low emission new buses, retrofit older buses with emission control equipment, use cleaner fuels and increase the fuel-efficiency of its fleet. Metro Vancouver has subsequently worked with TransLink on other environmental policies and provided input on the development of TransLink’s Transport 2040 Plan.

Actions For Communities

The Metro Vancouver board has committed the region to achieve the same GHG emission reduction targets that have been announced province-wide --- 33% below 2007 levels by the year 2020, and 80% below 2007 levels by 2050. The board has also directed staff to develop a regional climate change strategy that addresses both mitigation of GHGs and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

In 2008, Metro Vancouver staff facilitated the re-establishment of a climate protection subcommittee under Regional Engineers Advisory Committee (REAC) and this will be one venue for coordination of community energy plans and climate action plans with Metro Vancouver member municipalities.

In addition to regional targets, Metro Vancouver became a signatory to the BC Climate Action Charter in 2007, committing to a goal of being carbon neutral with respect to its own corporate emission sources by 2012. Metro Vancouver staff have actively participated and provided input to a number of provincial and local climate change initiatives.

In July 2008 Belcarra “signed-on” to the BC Climate Action Charter and Council now has to focus its attention on the goals of the BC Climate Action Plan. This means that Belcarra will be joining with municipalities across the region and province to compile an energy and emissions inventory for our municipality, implement strategies to reduce energy consumption, and thereby reduce Belcarra’s GHG emissions.

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