Alberta`s Clean Air Strategy
The Clean Air Strategy (CAS) is a framework that was renewed by the Government of Alberta in 2012 to support the achievement of the Provincial and National Air Quality Management System (AQMS). The CAS represents an integrated approach for managing air quality that will address current and emerging challenges, and ensure that clean air is part of a healthy and sustainable future for all Albertans.
The CAS identifies the following five guiding principles for working with partners to manage air quality in Alberta:
- Sustainability. Decisions related to the management of air quality will balance social, environmental and economic interests and consider cumulative impacts.
- Continuous Improvement. Continuous improvement will play an important role in moving the focus of our air quality management system from meeting standards to reducing emissions from all sources.
- Inclusiveness. Air quality management activities will continue to provide opportunities for public participation and for working with partners to protect Alberta’s air quality.
- Policy Efficiency. Decision-makers will ensure that Alberta’s environmental legislation, regulations and policies are aligned, efficient and seek solutions that satisfy multiple policy objectives.
- Transparency. Information will continue to be shared through enhanced transparent reporting and open communication with stakeholders and the public. The CAS Action Plan specifies 14 Key Actions and 105 Specific Actions (outcomes) with a 3-, 5- or 10-year implementation timeframe.
The Role of CRAZ The Calgary Region Airshed Zone (CRAZ) provides a key contribution to the CAS and the Province’s overall air quality management system through rigorous air quality monitoring. CRAZ has developed a comprehensive, reliable, and robust air quality monitoring program, cooperating and integrating with the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) to facilitate public information sharing. The data is used to establish long-term trends, track progress towards policy, and support continuous improvement initiatives. CRAZ is also active in developing Management Plan responses to recognized air quality indicators, such as Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone. CRAZ provided review on the Key and Specific Actions of CAS through a regional lens, via the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. To accomplish the review, CRAZ initiated a Sensitivity Analysis to assess and evaluate progress with CAS implementation in the Calgary region, and provincially, and to develop forward strategies. The first step of the Sensitivity Analysis project was the review of the CAS Action Plan’s 14 Key Actions to confirm links to Airshed Zone responsibilities. CRAZ prepared eight questions to relate each key action to AQMS projects already under way in the region, or elsewhere in the Province. These questions examined links between CAS Key Actions and CRAZ’s existing air quality monitoring and management programs. For each selected Key Action, specific activities and recommended timeframes were reviewed. The review of CAS Actions allowed CRAZ to focus on those that have most relevance at the regional Airshed Zone level. In the coming months, CRAZ will examine the associated CAS Specific Actions (outcomes) with a goal of producing a report detailing progress on each, and a plan for future action that will be presented to the CRAZ Board of Directors. CRAZ will continue to collaborate with Alberta Environment & Climate Change, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA), and other Provincial Airshed Zones to best realize the goals of the Alberta CAS.For more information on CRAZ, please visit our website at: www.craz.ca. For more information on the CAS, please visit: http://aep.alberta.ca/air/clearing-the-air/the-renewed-clean-air-strategy.aspx.
