16. INVENTORY OF AIR CONTAMINANTS AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

INVENTAIRE DES POLLUANTS ATMOSPHÉRIQUES ET DES ÉMISSIONS DE GAZ À EFFET
DE SERRE

Committee recommendation

That Council receive this report for information.

Recommandation du Comité

Que le Conseil reçoive ce rapport à titre d'information.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager's report Planning, Transit and the Environment dated 14 November 2007 (ACS2007-PTE-ECO-0015).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 27 November 2007.

Report to/Rapport au :

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

14 November 2007 / le 14 novembre 2007

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/

Directeur municipal adjoint, Planning, Transit and Environment/

Service de l'urbanisme, du transport au commun et de l'environnement

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Carol Christensen, Manager/Gestionnaire,

Environmental Sustainability/Durabilité de l’environnement, Economic and Environmental Sustainability/Viabilité économique et de la durabilité de l’environnement

(613) 580-2424 x21610, Carol.Christensen@ottawa.ca

City-wide

Ref N°: ACS2007-PTE-ECO-0015

SUBJECT:	INVENTORY OF AIR CONTAMINANTS AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

OBJET :	INVENTAIRE DES POLLUANTS ATMOSPHÉRIQUES ET DES ÉMISSIONS DE GAZ À EFFET DE SERRE

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Planning and Environment Committee and Council receive this report for information.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement et le Conseil reçoivent ce rapport à titre d'information.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Assumptions and Analysis:

The Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan approved by Council in 2005 established the need for an air emission base inventory and set specific targets for reductions in corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions (20 per cent below 1990 levels in 2007 for corporate emissions and 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 for community emissions).

In 2005 the City of Ottawa contracted SENES Consultants Limited to carry out an inventory on air contaminants and greenhouse gas emissions for 2004 - resulting in a baseline for criteria air contaminants and an updated inventory for greenhouse gas emissions to compare to a previous greenhouse gas inventory in 1990. The inventories were set up to enable staff to update them in-house.

Ottawa’s total air contaminants for 2004 were estimated to be 94 709 tonnes. The transportation sector was the biggest contributor of Particulate Matter of 10 microns in size, Nitric Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, and Volotile Organic Compounds and the commercial/industrial sector was the largest single contributor for Sulphur Dioxide emissions.

SENES concluded that overall the air quality in Ottawa is good, with the exception of Particulate Matter. Particulate Matter in Ottawa is most heavily concentrated in the Ottawa Centre / Inner area where 86 000 people are exposed to ongoing very poor air quality, and in the Ottawa East / Beacon Hill area where 82 000 people are exposed to poor air quality. Otherwise the air quality based on Particulate Matter is considered fair and good in the rest of the city.

Currently an Air Quality Mapping project of 15 months duration is underway that will produce detailed daily maps of air pollution concentrations across the National Capital Region. Staff will use the data from this pilot project to make recommendations regarding ongoing air quality monitoring in Ottawa.

Ottawa’s total greenhouse gas emissions for 2004 were 4.6 million tonnes. The largest sources of emissions was the buildings sector (58 per cent) and the transportation sector (36 per cent). This indicates that the community emissions were five per cent above 1990 levels, where the Council approved goal for Community greenhouse gas emissions was 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. This is still a considerable achievement in comparison to Canada, which is 27 per cent above 1990 levels, although this is partly due to the lack of large industrial greenhouse gas emitters in Ottawa. This community target will be revisited during the review of the Environmental Strategy to take place in 2008.

The City of Ottawa as a corporate entity emitted 75 131 tonnes in 2004. The largest sources of emissions was the buildings sector (53 per cent) and the transportation sector (28 per cent). This represented a 24 per cent greenhouse gas emissions decrease below 1990 levels from the City of Ottawa, surpassing the corporate goal of 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2007. Staff will recommend a new corporate target in 2008 following consultation among City departments as part of the review of the Environmental Strategy.

Financial Implications:

There are no financial implications to this report.

Public Consultation/Input:

As this report summarizes factual study results and does not make policy recommendations, no public consultation was done. Other City departments provided data to SENES Consulting for the inventory of corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

RÉSUMÉ

Hypothèses et analyse :

Le Plan de gestion de la qualité de l’air et des changements climatiques adopté par le Conseil en 2005 a établi la nécessité de se doter d’un inventaire de base sur les émissions atmosphériques et d’établir des cibles précises de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre des sociétés et des collectivités. (20 pour cent sous les niveaux de 1990 pour 2007 et 2012 respectivement).

En 2005, la Ville d’Ottawa a retenu les services de la firme SENES Consultants Limited pour réaliser un inventaire des polluants atmosphériques et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre pour 2004, ce qui devait produire une base de référence pour les polluants atmosphériques critères et un inventaire actualisé des émissions de gaz à effet de serre qui seraient comparés à un inventaire antérieur des gaz à effet de serre de 1990. Les inventaires ont été configurés de manière à pouvoir être mis à jour à l’interne par le personnel.

Le total des polluants atmosphériques pour Ottawa en 2004 a été estimé à 94 709 tonnes. Le secteur des transports a été le plus gros contributeur de PM₁₀, de NO_x, de CO et de COV, alors que le secteur industriel et commercial a été le plus gros contributeur unique d’émissions de SO₂.

SENES a conclu que la qualité générale de l’air à Ottawa est bonne, sauf pour les PM₁₀. Les PM₁₀ sont fortement concentrés dans la zone Ottawa Centre / Inner où 86 000 personnes sont exposées de façon continue à de l’air de qualité très médiocre, et dans le secteur Ottawa Est / Beacon Hill où une mauvaise qualité de l’air affecte 82 000 personnes. Autrement, dans le reste de la ville, la qualité de l’air, en termes de PM₁₀, est jugée acceptable et bonne.

Le projet actuel de cartographie de la qualité de l’air, d’une durée de 15 mois, est en cours et permettra de réaliser quotidiennement des cartes détaillées des concentrations en pollution de l’air dans toute la région de la capitale nationale. Le personnel utilisera les données de ce projet pilote afin de formuler des recommandations concernant le contrôle constant de la qualité de l’air à Ottawa.

Le total des émissions de gaz à effet de serre pour Ottawa en 2004 s’élevait à 4,6 millions de tonnes. Les sources d’émissions les plus importantes sont venues du secteur de la construction (58 pour cent) et du secteur du transport (36 pour cent), ce qui indique que les émissions de la collectivité étaient supérieures de cinq pour cent aux niveaux de 1990, alors que l’objectif adopté par le Conseil pour les émissions de gaz à effet de serre de la collectivité était de 20 pour cent inférieur aux niveaux de 1990 d’ici 2012. Il s’agit néanmoins d’un exploit considérable comparativement au Canada, qui dépasse les niveaux de 1990 de 27 pour cent, malgré le fait que ces chiffres sont en partie dus à l’absence de grands émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre à Ottawa. Cette cible pour la collectivité sera réexaminée lors de la révision de la Stratégie environnementale qui aura lieu en 2008.

La ville d’Ottawa, en tant qu’entité constituée, a émis 75 131 tonnes de gaz à effet de serre en 2004. Les plus grandes sources d’émissions ont été le secteur de la construction (53 pour cent) et le secteur du transport (28 pourr cent), ce qui représentait une baisse de 24 pour cent par rapport au niveaux des émissions de gaz à effet de serre de 1990 pour la Ville d’Ottawa, dépassant ainsi l’objectif de moins 20 pour cent fixé pour les sociétés d’ici 2007.

Le personnel recommandera une nouvelle cible en 2008, après consultation des divers services de la Ville dans le cadre de la révision de la stratégie environnementale.

Répercussions financières :

Ce rapport n'entraîne pas de répercussions financières.

Consultation publique / commentaires :

Comme le présent rapport résume les résultats d’une étude factuelle et ne fait pas de recommandations de principe, il n’y a pas eu de consultation publique. D’autres services de la Ville ont fourni des données à la firme SENES Consulting pour l’inventaire des émissions de gaz a effet de serre de l’administration municipale.

BACKGROUND

The Ontario Ministry of Environment reports that half of Ottawa's air pollution comes from the long-range transport of pollutants from the Ohio Valley and from Southern Ontario; the other half is locally produced. The local pollution may be influenced by municipal policies and regulations, providing an opportunity to improve Ottawa's air quality.

Since some air pollutants can act as greenhouse gases (GHGs) by trapping heat and many human related activities produce both GHG and air contaminants, the activities producing either or both must be examined together.

Although GHGs can be produced naturally, and are responsible for making the planet liveable, the additional GHGs produced by human activities are upsetting the balance and contributing to global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations sponsored group of more than 2 000 scientists from more than 100 countries, has concluded that human activity is a key factor in the elevated GHG emissions -trapping extra heat (global warming) thereby causing increases in the frequency and intensities of weather phenomena around the world (climate change).

The National Capital Commission hired Ouranos, a research consortium on regional climatology and adaptation to climate change, and the University of Waterloo to interpret the climate impacts that the IPCC is forecasting for Ottawa. Climate change will mean a future with milder winters but increases in freeze-thaw events and extreme storms, as well as hotter summers with longer heat waves.

This will impact tourism and agriculture. Specifically, morbidity and mortality due to cold will be reduced, but mortality caused by heat will increase. Also, outdoor rink closures will be much more common; the Rideau Canal skating season will be cut in half by the 2020s; and the Tulip Festival’s scheduling will be impacted due to the advancement of flowering. Due to a longer freeze-thaw period, there will be an increase in potholes. However, with the increased heat, a drier soil will allow for an earlier start to recreation and an earlier start to seeding for the agricultural sector.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Forest Service forecasted the average changes in temperature and precipitation for Ontario. For 2011-2040 the region encompassing Ottawa will have summers that are 2-3^oC warmer with precipitation changes of 0 to -10 per cent. Winter temperatures will change little, with precipitation changes of 0 to ‑10 per cent. The values do not include the likelihood or extent of extreme weather events. However it is often the extreme events that can jeopardize human health and safety and disrupt ecosystems.

DISCUSSION

The Planning, Transit and the Environment Department contracted SENES Consultants Limited to do an inventory of air contaminants and GHGs for 2004. This is the first air contaminant inventory and establishes a baseline. The GHG inventory is needed for comparison to 1990 levels in order to judge progress in meeting Council's targets for GHG reductions. SENES was also retained to recommend an Air Quality Monitoring Program for the City with the objective of determining the health impacts of pollutants on the local population. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities provided a grant to cover 50 per cent of the costs of the inventory.

The former Region of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) and the former City of Ottawa both had community and corporate emissions inventories carried out. Both used 1990 as baselines. The community emissions inventory done for the former Region serves as a baseline for the amalgamated City of Ottawa community emissions because the geographical areas are precisely the same. In terms of corporate emissions, the combined corporate activities of the former Region and the former City of Ottawa accounted for the majority of municipal corporate GHG emissions at the time of amalgamation. Determining the exact figure for corporate 1990 emissions of the other 10 local municipalities was deemed impractical. The existing data was factored up based on an inventory of building space in all of the amalgamated municipalities. This estimated total municipal corporate emissions in 1990 may be an underestimation but there is no reason to be concerned because a higher 1990 emissions baseline would translate into having completed an even greater reduction in corporate emissions in 2004.

Air Contaminants and GHG Inventory Results

The air contaminants emission inventory was undertaken for 2004 and subdivided over 13 districts. Five critical air pollutants were inventoried: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Oxides of Nitrogen (NO_x), Sulphur Oxides (SO_x), Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

An attempt was made to inventory Total Hydrocarbons (THC) and Ammonia (NH₃) but data was only available for the transportation sector. In the GHG emission inventory, three GHGs were inventoried: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), and Nitrous Oxide (N₂O).

The sources of the pollutants included were transportation, stationary fuel combustion (buildings) and emissions from waste. Sources for emissions were further broken down between the corporation of the City of Ottawa and the community. Air pollutant emissions from the buildings sector were subdivided into Residential and Commercial / Industrial sources.

The full report, “Air Quality Across the City of Ottawa –Final Report" by SENES Consultants Limited describes methodologies and quality assurance checks that were undertaken.

Air Contaminants

Ottawa’s total air contaminants for 2004 were estimated to be 94 709 tonnes. The transportation sector was the biggest contributor of PM₁₀, NO_x, CO, and VOCs. The commercial/industrial sector was the largest single contributor for SO₂ emissions. See table 2 for details. THC and NH₃ emissions are only available for the transportation sector.

Table 2. Total air pollutant emissions by sector for the City of Ottawa– 2004 (tonnes/year).

SECTOR	Air Pollutants (tonnes/year)
SECTOR	PM₁₀	NO_x	CO	SO₂	THC	VOC	NH₃
Residential	445	1,425	569	793	---*	53	---*
Commercial/Industrial	677	1,694	967	1,211	---*	46	---*
City as Corporation	7	129	44	362	---*	6	---*
Transportation	2,682	5,350	67,522	81	5,300	5,017	328
Waste	---**	---**	---**	---**	---**	---**	---**
TOTAL	3,811	8,599	69,102	2,447	5,300	5,122	328

---* No data available; ---** Data incomplete

A model that was run to study the dispersion of air contaminants using the 2004 emissions data showed that these concentrations were highest in Alta Vista/Hunt Club, followed by Merivale/Ottawa West, Ottawa Centre/Inner Area, Bayshore/Cedarview and Ottawa East/Beacon Hill.

SENES concluded that overall the air quality in Ottawa is good, with the exception of particulate matter. Air pollution in Ottawa is most heavily concentrated in the Ottawa Centre / Inner area where 86 000 people are exposed to very poor air quality, and in the Ottawa East / Beacon Hill area where 82 000 people are exposed to poor air quality. Otherwise the air quality based on particulate matter is considered fair and good in the rest of the city.

Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ottawa’s total community GHG emissions for 2004 were 4.6 million tonnes. The largest source of emissions was the buildings sector, accounting for 58 per cent. Of the remaining emissions, the transportation sector accounted for 36 per cent and the waste sector for six per cent. See table 3 for details.

Table 3. Total Community GHG Emissions for the City of Ottawa – 1990 to 2004 (tonnes/year).

City of Ottawa	GHG (tonnes/year)		% Change
City of Ottawa	1990	2004	1990/2004
Transportation	1,410,488	1,625,754	15%
Waste	457,770	257,669	-44%
Buildings	2,437,332	2,635,882*	8%
TOTAL	4,305,590	4,519,305	5%

*Latest floor space data available is for 1998

The 2004 data showed a five per cent increase in relation to 1990 community emissions. Emissions from the transportation sector increased by 15 per cent, due to more vehicles and a shift from cars to vans, SUVs and light-duty trucks. The latter emit up to 40 per cent more GHG per kilometer. The transportation share of GHG emissions increased from 32 per cent in 1990 to 36 per cent in 2004.

The Building sector emissions increased by eight per cent between 1991 and 2004. This is most likely an underestimation since data on building square footage was only available for 1998. The increase in emissions from the buildings sector was due to an increase in population as well as two other factors:

· An increase in GHG intensity of fuel used to create electricity in the late 1990s whereby some nuclear reactors were taken off-line and replaced by coal power.

· A fuel source change from electricity to natural gas.

The waste sector showed the greatest improvement by reducing its emissions by 44 per cent, from an 11 per cent share in 1990 to a six per cent share in 2004. This decline is due mainly to additional and improved landfill gas recovery and utilization systems at two landfills (Trail Road and Carp), and the implementation of different diversion initiatives (recycling, composting, “Take it Back” program, etc.). The difference in emissions by each sector can be seen in Graph 1 below.

Graph 1. GHG emissions by sector for 1990 and 2004

SENES was unable to find data that are considered by-products in the industrial processes, agriculture, land use changes and forestry sectors and thus these sectors were not included in the GHG inventory. Previous inventories did not include these sectors either. Their inclusion is prescribed by the Intergovern ental Panel on Climate Change and SENES recomended that they be added when the information becomes available to complete the inventory.

The Council approved goal for Community GHG emissions was 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. The 2004 community GHG emissions data indicates that community emissions were five per cent above 1990 levels. This is good in comparison to Canada, which is 27 per cent above 1990 levels, although this is partly due to the lack of large industrial GHG emitters in Ottawa. To meet Council's reduction target, a 25 per cent decrease in GHG emissions needs to be accomplished by 2012. This target will be revisited during the review of the Environmental Strategy.

Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The City of Ottawa as a corporate entity emitted 75 131 tonnes (t) in 2004. The largest source of emissions was the buildings sector, accounting for 40 141t or 53 per cent. Of the remaining emissions, the transportation sector accounted for 21 229t or 28 per cent, water/sewage for 9 341t or 12 per cent, streetlights and traffic lights for 3 567t or 5 per cent and the waste sector for 853t or 1 per cent. See table 4 for details.

Table 4. Total corporate GHG Emissions for the City of Ottawa – 1990 to 2004 (tonnes).

City of Ottawa	GHG (tonnes)		% Change
City of Ottawa	1990	2004	1990/2004
Fleet	16 623	21 229	28%
Buildings/Facilities	44 162	40 141	-9%
Street/Traffic Lights	5 699	3 567	-37%
Water/Sewage	29 473	9 341	-68%
Waste	2 929	853	-71%
TOTAL	98,886	75,131	-24%

In relation to 1990 emissions, 2004 data showed a 24 per cent decrease. This is attributable to the waste, water/sewage, streetlight and traffic lights as well as the buildings/facilities sectors decreasing emissions by 71 per cent, 6 per cent, 37 per cent and nine per cent respectively.

These reduction were due to the cogeneration for sewage treatment, and the improvements in energy efficiency in streetlights, traffic lights, and corporate buildings. The only sector that showed increasing emissions was the fleet sector. This was due to an increase in fleet size after amalgamation.

The 24 per cent GHG emissions decrease below 1990 levels from the City of Ottawa as a corporation in 2004 surpassed the corporate goal of 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2007. Staff will recommend a new corporate target in 2008 following consultation among City departments as part of the Environmental Strategy.

Air Quality Monitoring Program

SENES recommended comparing the modeled air quality results of this study to observed data. They recommended establishing reference stations that monitor air quality in the Inner Area at the University of Ottawa plus up to two additional reference stations at Carleton University and the other at the Université de Quebec à Gatineau.

Currently an Air Quality Mapping project is underway that will produce detailed daily maps of air pollution concentrations across the National Capital Region. The maps will also provide key information about what our local air quality issues are. Satellite technology is being used along with three stationary air quality station, mobile units and individual air quality samplers to produce maps at a resolution of one square kilometer.

The City of Ottawa is coordinating this project, with funding from GeoConnections, a program of Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Transport Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and from the Ottawa International Airport Authority. Pollution Probe and the New Brunswick Lung Association are also partners. Staff will use the data to make recommendations regarding air quality monitoring in Ottawa.

The air contaminant and greenhouse gas inventories provide a snapshot of emissions in 2004. The GHG inventory permits the City to measure progress toward its GHG reduction targets. Both inventories provide useful data for the evaluation of future initiatives that impact air quality and mitigate the effects of climate change on the City of Ottawa.

CITY STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

This report on the Inventory of Air Contaminants and GHG Emissions includes an analysis of the status of the City’s GHG emissions as of 2004. In its recently approved Strategic Directions Council confirmed its target to reduce its community GHG emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. As of 2004 the City was five per cent above 1990 levels. This is good in comparison to Canada, which is 27 per cent above 1990 levels but remains 25 per cent away from the City's goal.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

CONSULTATION

As this report summarizes factual study results and does not make policy recommendations, no public consultation was undertaken. Other City departments provided data to SENES Consultants Limited for the inventory of corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications to this report.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1: Air Quality Across the City of Ottawa –Final Report by SENES Consultants Limited (on file with the City Clerk)

DISPOSITION

Planning, Transit and the Environment, working with other City staff, will continue to collect and refine the data on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality and report the findings to Council.