Joint standards aim to reduce pollution, greenhouse gases
Canada and the U.S. will work together to introduce tougher auto emissions standards for vehicles in model years 2011 to 2016, the CBC reports, meaning that the two countries will have uniform standards for cars and light trucks. By 2016, the new standards should reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by 25 per cent from 2008 models, requiring 2016 model-year vehicles to meet a target of 35.5 miles per gallon (100 km per six litres) combined for cars and trucks, an increase of nearly 10 miles per gallon over present standards (about 100 km per 8.6 litres). Environment Minister Jim Prentice said the new standards are an important part of the commitment Ottawa made at the Copenhagen conference on climate change to reduce total emissions to 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020. The auto industry and environmental groups also lauded the move. “This provides the clarity vehicle makers need into their long-range production cycles … to allow for a wider implementation without restricting vehicle availability,” said Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Association of Vehicle Manufacturers.