Ottawa 2020

Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan

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Executive Summary

This Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan is a supporting document to the Environmental Strategy that was approved by City Council in October 2003. This Plan provides a context for climate change and air quality issues within the City, proposes both a Corporate and Community target for greenhouse gas emission reduction and outlines the measures the City should undertake to reach this target. The proposed City target maintains the commitments of former municipalities for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, relative to 1990 levels. Achievement of this target is proposed by 2007 for Corporate business activities and by 2012 for Community emissions. The community emissions are the greatest challenge, mainly because of both our increased population and increased per capita energy consumption since 1990. For example, between 1990 and 1998, our community emissions increased by 43%, for a total of 9 million tonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide (eCO2). This reality requires a comprehensive set of measures, from land use planning to reduced consumption to re-use of resources. So far, the City has been leading the way. During this same period, City operations have reduced their emissions by 12%. Implementation of the measures within this Plan will see us continue on this successful track of doing our part.

Air pollution is closely linked with the burning of fossil fuels which cause the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Our fossil fuel use is also responsible for 82% of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, 57% of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, 90% of nitric oxides (NOx) emissions, and 62% of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. These emissions can have a considerable impact on human health. Reduced lung capacity in children, asthma for residents of all ages, cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes), cancer, immunodeficiency and low birth weights are among the consequences of air pollution. The most vulnerable populations are children, the elderly, and those with underlying illnesses. The Ontario Medical Association estimates that air pollution in Ottawa causes hundreds of premature deaths, thousands of hospital admissions and millions of dollars in health costs.

The impact of climate change is also of concern. A temperature change has already been observed in Ottawa with a departure from the normal temperature by +1°C (30-year average), an increase that is twice the global change for the same period (0.5°C). Modelled climate variability that is expected in Ottawa suggests more frequent freezing rain events, increased amounts of precipitation and an increase in the number of heat waves. These climatic variations will in turn cause ecosystem shifts such as habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, invasion and threats from non-native species, as well as species extinction. This Plan focuses on mitigation of climate change with some recommendations for adaptive measures, however, adaptation will be addressed more comprehensively as one of this Plan's workplan items.

The measures proposed in this plan to reduce GHG's and our community's contribution to climate change will also reduce our emission of other air contaminants. Within our air, the emission of particulates and gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and methane, trap long wave energy that is reflected and radiated from the earth. This trapped heat energy increases our atmospheric temperature and serves as a catalyst for chemical reactions amongst the gases, such as the formation of ground level ozone (O3). Through a loop of human activities and natural processes our energy use impacts our air quality and stimulates climate change that affects both ecosystem and human health. This Plan identifies the health effects of various air contaminants, notes their main sources within Ottawa and proposes measures for reduced air emissions and GHG's.

In Ottawa, transportation and the energy use of building each account for 40% of our community's greenhouse gases. The remaining 20% is generated from the waste sector.

The transportation sector is also responsible for other air contaminant emissions, including over 85% of total NOx emissions, 90% of CO, 60% of SO2, and smaller amounts of various carcinogenic substances. Within areas with unpaved roads, up to 60% of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) and 46% of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) can be generated by wind erosion and road travel. In the winter, emissions from year-round fuel consumption activities, such as transportation, combined with on-site fuel consumption for heating (oil, natural gas and wood) and increased vehicle idling can result in poor air quality events when regional air masses stagnate. The main pollutant in this situation is fine particulate matter. Within winter, residential fuelwood combustion contributes approximately 19% of PM2.5 within Ontario.

When poor air quality or smog events occur in either summer or winter, there can be serious consequences to our health. Sulphur dioxide decreases pulmonary capacity. Nitrogen oxides are lung irritants and are associated with heart disease. Carbon monoxide is responsible for congestive heart failure and respiratory infections in children and the elderly. Unlike other air pollutants, no safe level exists for particulate matter (PM). Health effects include respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Increased levels of ground level ozone that occur during smog events can impact both animal and plant health through such effects as decreasing lung and immune function, causing asthma as well as lowering agricultural productivity and tree health.

Other sources of air pollution include residential cooling, organic matter decomposition, industrial sources (emit 150% more total particulate matter than transportation), waste disposal (responsible for 1200 tonnes of GHG), agricultural processes and road dust. Other air emission contaminants that also impact upon ecosystem and human health include pollen and mould, odours, noise and light. The impacts of all of these on health range from annoyance to serious respiratory and nerve and immunological disorders.