Pullution Probe, air quality

Air Quality, Water and Soil: Issue Paper No. 2, September 2003

This is the second in a series of nine issue papers commissioned by the Neptis Foundation for consideration by the Central Ontario Smart Growth Panel established by the Government of Ontario. This paper argues for an approach to air, water, and soil conservation that goes beyond "no net loss" of quality or function to "net gain". That is, changes in the environment should, over time, bring about improvements in the quality and function of air, water, and soil in the Central Ontario Zone. The principle requires monitoring environmental indicators, and the paper suggests 10 potential indicators that could be used. The paper also looks at major trends in air, water, and soil quality, their current and long-term effects, and proposed solutions for each area.

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Towards an Adaptation Action Plan: Climate Change and Health in the Toronto-Niagara Region, October 2002

The purpose of this study is to provide decision-makers with some of the information needed to improve the adaptive capacity of the health infrastructure in the Toronto-Niagara region in order to deal effectively with the projected human health effects of climate change. The authors have undertaken an assessment of the current science regarding climate change and its potential health effects, as well as the adaptive capacity of a health care system to handle the increased demand for services.

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The Smog Primer, June 2002

The second in a series of Pollution Probe Primers (see Acid Rain Primer), the Smog Primer has been developed to build public understanding of the sources of smog pollutants, their effects on human health, and the things we can do to reduce smog pollution and protect ourselves and our children from harm.

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North American Workplace-based Trip Reduction Programmes, November 2001

As part of it's Air Programme mandate, Pollution Probe promotes workplace-based trip reduction to companies and institutions as a way of reducing single-occupancy vehicle use. In March 2001, Pollution Probe contacted 25 institutions and companies (18 American and 7 Canadian) that had implemented trip reduction programmes at their workplaces. Contact people at each workplace were telephoned and interviewed about their trip reduction programme, and their self-reported information was recorded on a template. This information forms the basis of this report.

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S.M.A.R.T Movement: Saving Money and the Air by Reducing Trips

October 2001

The S-M-A-R-T Movement manual is a simple, clearly organized step-by-step resource that guides organizations in reducing employee car trips. Our main message promotes the many benefits of a trip reduction programme to both employers and employees. Reducing drive-alone car trips will save money and time, reduce stress and improve air quality by reducing emissions of pollutants contributing to climate change and smog. While focusing on ways to change commuting behaviour, the programme also applies to business workday trips and personal travel. To help companies implement and promote the programme, the practical S-M-A-R-T manual explains the steps to get started, highlights relevant case studies, provides simple ways to track cost and emission savings and incorporates other useful information.

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Air Quality Indices: A Review , October 2001

This report provides background information that Pollution Probe hopes will assist in the development of a national Air Quality Index in Canada. It includes a historical review that explains how the index was devised and modified, and how it has been used in various parts of Canada. The parallel development of the US Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and its successor, the Air Quality Index (AQI), is also discussed to indicate how a similar jurisdiction, using a comparable index has gone about the process of revision to ensure that it remains scientifically accurate and socially relevant (63 pages).

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Trans-Action 2001: Toward Economic and Environmental Health, January 2001

This report was put together as a result of two simultaneous Transit Summits which were held in Ottawa and Toronto on April 10, 2000. Recent public opinion polls indicate that increasing public transit's share of urban travel, and investment in public transit expansion, have become key priorities in the minds of urban Canadians. Trans-Action 2001 is intended to serve as a wake-up call and a roadmap for restoring and enhancing transit in Canada. The report presents the view of some of the many participants in last year's Ottawa and Toronto events, to make the case for improving public transit and synthesize the key recommendations that came out of these Summits (17 pages).

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A Critical Analysis of Progress Reported by Ontario's Anti-Smog Action Plan Partnership, October 2000

The objective of this report is to examine the actual progress being made to reduce smog-causing emissions in Ontario, in light of the Ministry of the Environment's recently released progress report on Ontario's Anti-Smog Action Plan (ASAP). Pollution Probe has reviewed this report and does not believe that it accurately portrays ASAP's emission reduction initiatives, but in fact significantly overstates the progress made to date (21 pages).

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The Acid Rain Primer, June 2000

Although we haven't heard about it for quite a while, the acid rain problem is far from being solved. There is much work to be done, and Canadians need to be reacquainted with the issue of acid rain and what is at stake. As we enter the new millennium, acid rain is a good news, bad news story. The good news is that, over the past several years, Canada has met all of its goals in reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide, a key cause of acid rain. Even better, some lakes have started to show signs of recovery. The bad news is that, in spite of this good work, we have found that our original reduction goals were not tough enough to protect some areas of Canada from acid rain, especially parts of Ontario and Quebec and much of the Atlantic provinces. The "Acid Rain Primer" covers many aspects of the problem including US and Canadian policies, area monitoring, as well as current and future situations in Canada (42 pages).

Pollution Probe

"a Canadian environmental organization that Defines environmental problems through research; Promotes understanding through education; and, Presses for practical solutions through advocacy. to achieve positive and tangible environmental change."