Canada’s actions on air quality

Addressing air pollution is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. We are working to improve air quality and protect public health and the environment with:

• municipalities
• provinces and territories
• Indigenous peoples
• industry and other stakeholders

Canada’s commitment to improve indoor and outdoor air quality is being achieved by:

• policy and regulatory development
• science and research activities
• monitoring and reporting
• collaboration and partnership

Air Quality Management System

Canada's Air Quality Management System (AQMS) is a framework for collaborative action to reduce outdoor air pollution across the country. It is a key aspect of the government's efforts to address air pollution.

The system includes:

• Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS)
• industrial emissions requirements
• provincial and territorial air zones
• interjurisdictional airsheds
• reporting to Canadians on the state of their air

Federal, provincial, and territorial governments work together to implement the system. They each have specific roles and responsibilities. Implementation of various aspects of the AQMS also involves engagement with:

• health and environmental non-governmental organizations
• members of industry groups
• Indigenous peoples

Since the establishment of the AQMS in 2012, the federal government has put in place measures to reduce air pollutant emissions from industrial sectors and CAAQS for four key air pollutants. The CAAQS are health and environment-based air quality objectives for outdoor air pollutants. They promote continuous improvement in air quality across Canada by all levels of government.

Read about the state of the air across the country in Canada's State of the Air report.

Learn more about the AQMS.

Reduction of air pollutant emissions

The Government of Canada has put in place measures under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to tackle air pollution from industrial sectors, vehicles, engines, fuels, and consumer and commercial products. Environmental performance agreements, guidelines, pollution prevention notices, and codes of practices are additional measures used to reduce air pollution.

Please visit the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry to learn more.

Air quality data, research, and science

We offer various initiatives that provide access to air quality data and research:

• learn more about our air quality research to understand the science behind air quality and its uses
• learn more about our air quality monitoring networks and data products
• detailed information and data related to all air quality monitoring stations are also available on the Open Science and Data Platform
• daily air quality forecasts for communities across Canada
• learn more about our health risk assessment and guidance for both outdoor and indoor air pollutants
• find outreach and communication products on a variety of indoor and outdoor air pollution issues

Air pollutant inventories

We also prepare annual inventories that track air pollutant emissions.

• Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory (APEI): Provides emission levels and trends in Canada for 17 air pollutants since 1990
• Black Carbon Emissions Inventory: Provides black carbon emission levels and trends in Canada since 2013
• National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): Includes air pollution information from over 7,000 industrial facilities across Canada

Partnerships and international engagement

Air quality is an issue of global concern. Air pollution knows no borders and can travel very long distances. This is why international cooperation is needed to reduce air pollution.

Canada is a Party to the following legally binding treaties to address transboundary air pollution:

• Canada-US Air Quality Agreement
• Gothenburg Protocol to reduce transboundary air pollution under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Canada is also working internationally on improving air quality through the:

• Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Global Methane Pledge
• Arctic Council
• United Nations Environment Programme
• Global Methane Initiative
• Powering Past Coal Alliance
• International Maritime Organization
• World Meteorological Organization

Learn more about our participation in international environmental agreements and instruments.

Learn more about the resolutions, decisions, and declarations from the Governing Council and the United Nations Environment Assembly.