Background

The first significant case of US-Canadian transboundary air pollution, the Trail Smelter Arbitration created a global precedent. The smelter began operations in the 1890s in southern British Columbia, near the US. border. Soon after, nearby farmers in Washington State complained that sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the plant were damaging their land, livestock, and businesses. The dispute was pursued through a lengthy legal process that culminated in the Trail Smelter Arbitration. The most important result from this arbitration, which concluded in 1941, was the finding that "no nation may undertake acts on its territory that will harm the territory of another state", a global precedent in the area of transboundary air pollution.

A transboundary air quality event in the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound (2001)
(Source: Environment Canada)

Another binational environmental effort between Canada and the United States is the International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC was formed in 1909 as part of the Boundary Waters Treaty, which originally addressed water-related issues. However, the IJC now considers air quality matters as well, such as the 1991 Canada-USA Air Quality Agreement.

One of the most important global transboundary air quality accomplishments was the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The need to address regional acid rain was the motivation for the Convention, which was signed by 34 governments and the European Community in 1979. It was the first international legally binding instrument to deal with problems of air pollution on a broad, regional basis. Besides defining general principles of international cooperation for air pollution abatement, the Convention set up an institutional framework to bring together research and policy.

Following important US and Canadian efforts in the 1980s toward improved air quality, the countries met to discuss cross-border air pollution, and develop the 1991 Canada-USA Air Quality Agreement. This Agreement was designed to address shared concerns regarding transboundary air pollution.

At the province-state level, the 1992 Environmental Co-operation Agreement (pdf) was signed between Washington State and the Province of British Columbia. This Agreement emphasized coordinated action and information sharing on environmental matters of mutual concern including air quality. In 1994, a Memorandum of Understanding (pdf) was signed between these agencies, as well as the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Northwest Air Pollution Authority (now Northwest Clean Air Agency) to ensure timely prior consultation on air permitting.

In January 2000, Environment Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency signed a Joint Statement of Co-operation for the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem. The Statement outlines common goals and objectives, confirms the commitment and leadership of the two federal governments and recognizes the special interests of residents and their governments. It also acknowledges the collaborative efforts already underway throughout the Georgia Basin / Puget Sound Ecosystem, and establishes a formal Canada-US mechanism at the regional level to act on the challenges of sustainability.

Canada-USA Peace Arch border crossing

(Source: Environment Canada)

In December 2000, Canada and the United States negotiated the Ozone Annex under the 1991 Canada-US Air Quality Agreement. This Annex includes commitments by both countries to significantly reduce the smog-causing pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause the formation of ground level ozone, which can harm human health and the environment.

In December 2001, Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and Region 10 Administrator John Iani, both of the US Environmental Protection Agency, expressed their continued support for this important transboundary initiative to Environment Minister David Anderson and Washington State Governor Gary Locke.

Currently, co-operative discussions between American and Canadian partners continue, culminating in the August 2002 signing of the Statement of Intent that pledges continued collaborative efforts regarding present and future air quality issues in the Georgia Basin / Puget Sound airshed.

In 2005, a report was completed detailing collaborative progress on air quality through the Georgia Basin Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy process. This report highlights key priorities, significant scientific findings, and options to improve air quality and air quality management in this region.

Other available backgrounds include:

Select link to obtain a list of the participating agencies in the Georgia Basin / Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy.