Regulations for trucks, buses, and large vehicles cut pollution, improve air quality, and boost competitiveness

OTTAWA, June 14, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is delivering on its promise to fight climate change, reduce pollution, and make investments to improve the health of communities while growing the economy.

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced new carbon-pollution regulations for heavy-duty vehicles, starting in 2020, and the regulations will become increasingly stringent in the years ahead. By reducing emissions from school buses, transport tractors and trailers, garbage trucks, delivery vans, and larger pick-up trucks, these regulations will make our air cleaner and our communities healthier while helping transportation companies save money. The regulations will promote clean innovation and support good middle-class jobs.

The regulations will also reduce trucking costs for moving goods in Canada, helping the transportation sector become more competitive by saving new vehicle owners approximately $1.7 billion in fuel costs annually, by 2030, and by reducing the cost of transporting goods and materials to customers in Canada and in international markets. The approach will keep Canada globally competitive while protecting the environment.

In Canada, carbon pollution from heavy-duty vehicles has almost tripled since 1990. Today, it is comparable to emissions from coal-fired electricity. These regulations will decrease the growth of carbon pollution from this part of our transportation sector.

Reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles is also an important part of Canada's clean-growth and climate action plan. The new standards for heavy-duty vehicles will reduce carbon pollution by approximately 6 million tonnes a year by 2030, which is comparable to taking about 1.5 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.  

Canada's regulations are designed to promote innovation and provide flexibility to industry to choose the most cost-effective compliance options. Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers will have the flexibility to choose the clean technologies that will increase their fuel efficiency and reduce emissions and operating costs.

Quotes

"The environment and the economy go hand in hand. Large vehicles are an important part of Canada's economy?we rely on them to get kids to school, move goods to customers, and keep our neighbourhoods clean. They also contribute to smog and carbon pollution, which harm our health and our environment. With these new regulations, we are making the air cleaner and fighting climate change while helping businesses compete and grow and supporting jobs for middle-class Canadians."
? Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

• Currently, heavy-duty vehicle emissions account for 9 percent of Canada's total emissions.
• Introducing new heavy-duty vehicle regulations and making investments in low-carbon transportation are important parts of Canada's climate action plan to meet its Paris Agreement commitments.
• Canada is also phasing in the implementation of regulations to provide more lead time for industry to maximize investments in new technology and upgrade existing facilities.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada has consulted with Canadians and industry stakeholders on the development of new heavy-duty vehicle emissions regulations, since 2014.
• The Government of Canada is also supporting the transportation industry through Budget 2017's investment of $10.1 billion in trade and transportation projects over the next decade. This investment will help build stronger, more efficient transportation corridors to international markets and will enable Canadian businesses to compete and grow while creating more jobs for Canada's middle class.

Related Products

• Canada's heavy-duty vehicle regulations

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada