Province commits to reducing sulphur dioxide emissions (01/03/28)
NB-RHS75
March 28, 2001
FREDERICTON (CNB) - The Province has set new targets to reduce Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emissions in New Brunswick, Environment and Local Government Minister Kim Jardine announced today.
The department has been given approval to enter into an agreement with Canada, the Provinces and Territories to lower the provincial SO2 emissions cap of 175 kilotonnes (KT) set under the 1985 Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program, by 30 per cent to 122.5 KT by 2005 and by 50 per cent to 87.5 KT by 2010.
"Acid rain remains one of Canada's major environmental concerns," Jardine said. "The proposed SO2 emissions cap reductions will fulfill New Brunswick commitments on a national and regional cross-border basis."
The Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000, signed by the federal/provincial/territorial ministers of Energy and Environment in 1998, called for further reductions in SO2 emissions as a means of curbing acidification, which continues to plague certain regions of Eastern Canada. In addition, the Acid Rain Action Plan of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers called for reductions in each jurisdiction that would enable national emissions reductions in each country of 50 per cent by 2010.
"New Brunswick has played a leadership role in reducing SO2 emissions over the past decade and we can continue to be among the leaders with the new reduction targets that have been established," the minister said. "Apart from the local benefits from lower emissions in New Brunswick, our leadership role is essential if we are to continue to call for SO2 reductions in other regions that impact the province."
The Department of the Environment and Local Government consulted with both industry and environmental interest groups prior to adopting the new targets. "The support provided was very much appreciated and beneficial," Jardine said.
Implementation plans for the new targets will be developed over the next year to establish individual emission reduction strategies for large sources of SO2. "If New Brunswick is to reach the new targets all major industrial sources in the province will be expected to contribute to the reductions of SO2 emissions," the minister said. |
