The United States and Canada will soon start negotiating on measures to curb cross-border air pollution.
In the past, both the countries have signed agreements on issues like ground-level ozone, acid rain and scientific co-operation.
This time, the negotiation would zero in on so-called particulate matter like the airborne particles from smokestacks, which result in respiratory problems and heart disease.
Canada’s Environment Minister John Baird was upbeat about the talks and said,
There was a degree of enthusiasm that I didn’t anticipate. I hope we can come forward in short order with an agreement. It’s on the radar screen here and we’ll be judged by what we accomplish.
Director of global threats programs at the World Wildlife Fund in Ottawa Julia Langer, however, was critical of Canada’s role so far and alleged they always talk about negotiations but nothing really progresses.
Langer said
Meanwhile, we’re still breathing particulates and pumping greenhouse gases into the air. The fastest, best way to deal with them is to shut down the coal-fired plants.