Air Quality Management in Metro Vancouver

Roger Quan DIRECTOR, AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Air Quality and Health Workshop, February 5, 2018

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• Overview of Metro Vancouver

• Metro Vancouver air quality and climate change program

• Integration of public health considerations

• Current initiatives

• Future directions

outline

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Metro Vancouver

A REGIONAL DISTRICT

COMPRISING

21 MUNICIPALITIES

ONE ELECTORAL AREA

AND ONE TREATY FIRST

NATION

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Managing Air Quality and Climate Change

in the Lower Fraser Valley Airshed

Under the

Environmental

Management Act,

Metro Vancouver has

the delegated

authority for air

quality in the region

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Healthy, clean and clear air for current and future

generations

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Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan

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• 29 stations collect air quality, visual air quality and weather

information

• Additional portable and mobile capabilities

Air Quality Monitoring Network

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Toxic Air Pollutants Health Risk Assessment

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integrating health into AQ programs:

Diesel Particulate Matter

• Diesel PM contributes 2/3 of the

lifetime cancer risk from exposure to

air pollution

• Non-road diesel engine emission regulation

• On road diesel trucks and buses

• Marine vessels

• Rail locomotives

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• Residential wood burning

contributes more than 25% of PM2.5

in the region

• Currently consulting on a regulatory

approach

• Exchange program in place since 2009

• Cool weather air quality bulletins

• Education initiatives

integrating health into AQ programs:

Residential Wood Smoke

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• Fine particulate matter and ground level ozone

• Impacts on human health, tourism

integrating health into AQ programs:

Smog and Visual Air Quality

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• Coal and commodities terminals

• Pipeline expansions

• Transportation infrastructure

integrating health into AQ programs:

Major Project Reviews

Public Engagement annual Caring for the Air report

air quality data to the public:

Airmap.ca

Air Quality Health Index

Air quality advisories and bulletins

consultation on regulations, policies

Linking air emissions to exposure

EMERGING ISSUES 15

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Climate impacts and adaptation

• Metro Vancouver is developing

Climate 2050 – a regional

climate action strategy

• Climate impacts are already

being seen in the region, with

air quality and health

implications

Sept. 6, 2017

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Citizen science • Small, low cost, air quality monitors are

increasingly available to the public

• Role of these monitors in monitoring

networks, air quality assessments

• Understanding the limitations

• Citizens’ guide

Questions or comments?

Thank You!