Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement: Progress Report 2016: Conclusion

Canada and the United States continue to successfully meet their commitments set forth in the 1991 Agreement. Since the establishment of the Agreement, both countries have made significant progress in reducing acid rain and controlling ozone in the transboundary region.

Despite the results achieved under the Agreement, the pollutants covered by the Agreement (SO₂, NO_X, VOCs) remain a concern and continue to have significant impacts on human health and the environment in both countries. Continued bilateral efforts are needed to reduce the transboundary impact of these pollutants and to ensure that transboundary air pollution does not affect each country’s ability to attain and maintain its national ambient air quality standards for pollutants such as ozone and PM_2.5.

The Agreement provides a formal and flexible method for addressing transboundary air pollution and continues to provide a framework under which the two countries can cooperate to address ongoing and future air quality issues.