Clean Air Partnership

recent reports

  • Adapting to Climate Change in Ontario: Towards the Design and Implementation of a Strategy and Action Plan
    November 25, 2009

    The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has released a report titled Adapting to Climate Change in Ontario: Towards the Design and Implementation of a Strategy and Action Plan, authored by Ontario’s Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation.  The report lists a broad range of recommendations to help Ontario understand climate change impacts, reduce risks and take advantage of beneficial opportunities resulting from climate change.
     

  • Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Needs Survey Report
    October 19, 2009

    This Report on the Needs Assessment Survey has been created by the Northern and Southern coordinators of the North South Climate Change Network (NSCCN). The Survey was distributed to 60 municipalities and, or organizations from both Northern and Southern Ontario.  A total of 24 of the selected groups responded to the survey.  The survey responses will serve to inform the Network and will provide participants with potential contacts and resources. Ongoing feedback from members will also be used to direct and evaluate network activities.  

  • Climate Change Adaptation in the City of Toronto: Lessons for Great Lakes Communities
    May 4, 2009

    Like other communities in the Great Lakes region, Toronto is undergoing significant changes in its climate. The city is becoming hotter, weather is becoming more variable, extreme weather is more common, and insect pests are multiplying as a result of warmer winters. Because of the millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases already released to the atmosphere, these changes will continue for the next century or more, even if we are successful in dramatically reducing emissions in the near future.

More reports

Why 20/20 Matters

January 20, 2010

Climate Change, Air Quality and Your Health

Did you know there is a direct link between energy conservation, air pollution and your health? Read this and find out how they are connected.
  • The word “smog” comes from “smoke” and “fog”.
     
  • It occurs most often on hot days when heat and sunlight react to gases and particles in the air to from smog, but air pollution is a year round issue.
     
  • The main pollutants in smog (particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and ground level ozone) irritate or burn the lining in our lungs.
     
  • Smog can cause breathing difficulties for people with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses like asthma and heart disease. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people who work outdoors are most vulnerable to smog related illnesses.
     
  • In 2008, air pollution contributed to 9,500 early deaths and over 16,000 hospital admissions in Ontario (Ontario Medical Association).
     
  • The economic loss due to smog related illnesses costs Ontarian’ $10 billion dollars a year.
     
  • As the number of smog days increase with climate change, deaths due to air pollution, hospital admissions and their associated costs will continue to rise.
     
  • The Air Quality Health Index (link to AQHI section of web site) is a tool that measures air quality in relation to your health on a scale of 1 to 10. A reading of 1 means a low risk and 7 or greater represents a high risk. The index can help you decide when to enjoy physical activity outdoors and when to reduce or reschedule your activities. Hourly conditions and forecasts can be found at www.airhealth.ca. For air quality conditions in Ontario outside the GTA visit www.airqualityontario.com.
     
  • Using the 20/20 Planner to reduce energy consumption and fossil fuel use decreases the amount of pollutants in the air from vehicles, coal-fired power plants, and individual households. In turn, this prevents climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.