Public Policy on Air Quality and the Role of Science: A Canadian Perspective

Transcription

1 Public Policy on Air Quality and the Role of Science: A Canadian Perspective Phil Blagden Health Canada Carrie Lillyman Environment Canada

2 Jurisdictional Balance! The Canadian federal system recognizes that Ottawa and the Provinces share jurisdiction over environment! Some legislative recognition in Canadian Environmental Protection Act! Federal- provincial territorial structures and processes are focussed on collaboration! Best situated! Consensus based decision making

3 The Federal Policy Framework comes in layers! Constitution! Legislation! Department of Environment Act! Canadian Environmental Protection Act! National and International Agreements! Government Agenda! Speech from the Throne! Budgets! Announcements! White and Green Papers! Reports to Parliament

4 Translating Science to Policy! Science results come forward into policy as either:! issue identification! information to help make a decision! Science is also the subject of policy decisions relating to:! what science to do! who does it (government, academia, private sector)! Funding level

5 SAGE Science Advice for Government Effectiveness! Early Issue Identification! Inclusiveness! Sound Science and Sound Advice! Uncertainty and Risk! Transparency and Openness! Review

6 Information from research, monitoring, science assessments, emission inventories, economics, outreach and air quality forecasts supports. Better Decisions Accountability Limiting Risk Healthy Choices

7 Better Decisions Predicting the consequences of actions is an essential part of decision making! Environmental prediction techniques can support emission control strategies and assess air pollution impacts on health and environment! Emission models! Atmospheric models! Health Impact models! Environmental Impact models! Economic Models

8 Accountability and Progress Monitoring and reporting from source to effect is essential to determining progress, validating past decisions, and determining a path forward! Includes emissions inventories, atmospheric measurements, and surveillance of health and environmental impacts! From a policy perspective there should be no distinction between monitoring and research! Indicators are sometimes useful

9 Anticipating and Limiting Risks by! Recognizing uncertainty! Research inside and outside government! Assessment and analysis! Maintaining effective mechanisms for integrating science into government and business decisions

10 Healthy choices by individuals and communities! The public is concerned about air quality but uncertain of how to respond to protect their health or to improve their environment! Health based air quality forecasts allow people to protect their health! Engagement Programs increase awareness (e.g., Commuter Challenge, Clean Air Day, Car Free Day, Clean Air Online, NPRI portal);! Transit initiatives can lead to behaviour change

11 Some Current Questions Policy! Are things getting better or! worse?! How bad is it?! Who s to blame?! What actions will reduce the health impacts of air pollution?! What actions will maintain natural capital?! How much benefit can be attained within current techno-socioeconomic systems! What targets should be set?! How can we change behaviour? Research! What are the toxic agents in PM?! What is the impact of specific reductions! What makes individuals sensitive?! What effect will climate change have on regional air quality?! What role will air pollutants have on the changing climate?! What happens between continents?! What are the costs and benefits of management strategies?

12 Science Assessment at Environment Canada and Health Canada 1. lead, organize, conduct and write assessments of substances 2. provide national secretariat to national and international committees and also leadership on science assessments 3. provide and communicate atmospheric science advice and information 4. Contribute to environmental assessments of projects activities and processes

13 The activities of Science Assessment and Integration provide another impressive linkage to the national and international policy development process. This Branch played an effective role in bringing science to the policy makers in the area of acid deposition, smog and toxic materials transport. MSC is to be commended for allocating a portion of their scarce resources to these vital activities International Peer Review of MSC s Research and Development Program

14 Clients for Science Assessment Policy Community PM Industry CC Ozone Acid Dep. Strat.O 3 Science Community Stakeholders General Public Media

15 Input into Decision-making Decision-makers Political Advisor Ongoing challenge to advisors Policy-makers Stakeholder Input Science Advisor Other Advisors Economic Advisor

16 Translating Research into the Policy Community! Several mechanisms for which past Assessments have been completed (i.e. Subcommittee on Scientific Cooperation, CCME Acid Rain Task Group, WGAQOG)! Communication between scientists, science advisors and policy advisors! Significant involvement of research scientists! Science Assessment should meet the goals of the policy community without compromising the value or integrity of the scientific information

17 Research Supporting Policy Examples:! Acid rain! Critical loads = Emission reduction targets! Smog! Canada Wide Standards! Federal smog plan! Atmospheric Transport! Canada U.S. Air Quality Agreement! UN ECE conventions POPS, Hg! Stratospheric Ozone Montreal Protocol

18 Acid Deposition: an example of science-based policy 1960 Sudbury Lakes 1980 science assessment 1968 cuts at INCO 1982 Target Load 20 kg/ha/yr 1985 science assessment 1990 science assessment 1997 science assessment 2004 Science Assessment 1984 Eastern Canada A.R. Program 1991 Canada/US Air Quality Agreement 1998 Post-2000 Acid Rain Strategy EMISSIONS 0.65 MT 8 % 92 % SULPHUR ( ) WET DEPOSITION Integrated Area 28 % 72 % 0.64 MT Possible PM Annex to AQA Possible Domestic Action 7.05 MT Total = 7.70 MT 1.68 MT Total = 2.32 MT

19 CWS for PM and Ozone! Supported by two science assessments! PM 1999! Ozone 1998! Reviewed in 2005; science reviews were provided by the federal government to the federal-provincialterritorial group for:! Health Science for PM and O 3! Atmospheric Science for PM and O 3! Ecosystem Impacts of O 3! Economic Valuation paper! CWS will be reviewed again in 2010! Atmospheric and health science to be assessed for 2008 by health and atmospheric scientists

20 Transboundary Transport! Subcommittee on Scientific Cooperation (Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement)! Assessment of Transboundary transport of PM! Atmospheric science only: published 2004! Science basis for possible future bilateral negotiations with the U.S. on PM

21 Upcoming Atmospheric Science Assessments! 2008 Canadian Smog Science Assessment! To support CWS PM/O 3 Review! NAESI 2008 Impact of Agriculture on Ambient Ammonia (NH 3 ) + PM! 2007 BAQS Airshed Characterization Report! Canadian Statement on 2007 IPCC 4 th Science Assessment! 2006 Canadian Statement on Stratospheric Ozone and UVB Assessment! 2005 CEPA GHG Toxicity

22 Summary Over the last years the air quality and health science has delivered the tools and knowledge on which Canada s current clean air policies are founded. Over the last five years these science programs have also created the basis for our current identification of the need to move forward to improve health through further emission reductions, has identified transcontinental transport problems, and renewed concerns about acid rain and hazardous air pollutants

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