Canadian Agreement on Kyoto 'Ambiguous': U of California Report

According to a new study, there may be no net effect on air pollution from Canada's commitments to Kyoto on autmobile emissions.

1 minute read

January 18, 2006, 2:00 PM PST

By Michael Dudley

"According to [a new study], the Kyoto Agreement [to remove millions of automobiles from Canada's automotive fleet] is so ambiguous that it 'could result in substantially improved fuel economy, or it could have little or no effect' on air pollution in Canada."

"[Some] pollution reductions...would have happened anyway [including] emission cuts resulting from the rising use of ethanol-containing fuel, the introduction of air-conditioning equipment that leaks fewer greenhouse gases and the recently mandated requirement for oil refineries to provide cleaner burning, low-sulphur gasoline. According to [the report] these three trends alone could achieve half of the 5.3-million-tonne goal, and all other planned actions would exceed the target."

"Environmentalists had hoped the targeted cuts would be in addition to the planned reductions, which would require the industry to manufacture high-efficiency cars, such as gas-electric hybrids, and have incentives for Canadians to buy them."

FULL STORY: Ottawa's car-emission deal blasted

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 in The Globe and Mail

Transportation Canada

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