The thermal electricity industry operates in a world of changing environmental events, government policy and environmental regulations. Here is a brief account of events, policies and regulations that relate to the industry and its environmental impacts:
|
1985
|
•
|
The Canadian Acid Rain Program is established by the federal government and provincial governments in Eastern Canada to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions.
|
|
1991
|
•
|
Canada and the U.S. sign the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement to control cross-border emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The agreement commits the two countries to specific reduction targets, including key emission sources in Ontario and Quebec.
|
|
1992
|
•
|
At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Canada, along with 153 other countries, signs the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the first international agreement to reduce global GHG emissions.
|
|
1995
|
•
|
Canada’s Voluntary Challenge and Registry is established to encourage voluntary actions by private and public organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity industry has actively supported the program since its inception.
|
|
1998
|
•
|
The federal, provincial and territorial governments sign the Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000 to reduce acid rain in Eastern Canada and prevent acid rain from developing in other parts of the country. Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia commit to sulphur dioxide emission reductions. Ontario proposes to reduce its sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 45 per cent and 50 per cent by 2010.
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment proposes the development of Canada-wide standards for different substances, including emissions of sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury. These standards are to be applied to key emission sources including coal-fueled generating plants.
Canada signs and ratifies the Protocol to the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals. Canada is required to reduce heavy metal emissions from existing sources by at least 50 per cent from 1990 levels.
|
|
1999
|
•
|
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is revised to protect the environment and human health from risks posed by toxic substances.
|
|
2000
|
•
|
The Canadian and U.S. governments sign the Ozone Annex to the 1991 Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement to reduce cross-border emissions of nitrogen oxides and VOCs. The agreement sets specific emission limits for power plants and other sources.
The federal government adds PM10 (coarse particulate), along with smog precursors (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, VOCs and ammonia), to the List of Toxic Substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
The federal, provincial and territorial governments (except Quebec) endorse Canada-wide standards for fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone. The standards set targets for ambient emissions concentrations to be achieved by 2010.
|
|
2002
|
•
|
In December, the federal government ratifies the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol commits Canada to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The federal government also releases the Climate Change Draft Plan.
|
|
2003
|
•
|
The federal government releases New Source Emission Guidelines for new coal-fueled, oil-fueled and gas-fueled power plants. These guidelines include more stringent emissions limits for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
|
RSS
