According to a new study, there may be no net effect on air pollution from Canada's commitments to Kyoto on autmobile emissions.
"According to [a new study], the Kyoto Agreement [to remove millions of automobiles from Canada's automotive fleet] is so ambiguous that it 'could result in substantially improved fuel economy, or it could have little or no effect' on air pollution in Canada."
"[Some] pollution reductions...would have happened anyway [including] emission cuts resulting from the rising use of ethanol-containing fuel, the introduction of air-conditioning equipment that leaks fewer greenhouse gases and the recently mandated requirement for oil refineries to provide cleaner burning, low-sulphur gasoline. According to [the report] these three trends alone could achieve half of the 5.3-million-tonne goal, and all other planned actions would exceed the target."
"Environmentalists had hoped the targeted cuts would be in addition to the planned reductions, which would require the industry to manufacture high-efficiency cars, such as gas-electric hybrids, and have incentives for Canadians to buy them."
FULL STORY: Ottawa's car-emission deal blasted

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
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