TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — New analysis by The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) indicates that Canada’s proposed federal zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) regulation will result in over $90 billion in health benefits for Canadians over the next 25 years, including up to 11,000 avoided premature deaths.
The proposed regulation will ensure all Canadians have options available if they wish to purchase an electric vehicle. Auto manufacturers and importers would need to meet annual ZEV sales targets, increasing annually to at least 60% of sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
While the cumulative carbon reduction impacts of a ZEV regulation are evident, estimated at 430 megatonnes, health benefits have been excluded or significantly underestimated until now. Implementation of the ZEV regulation will dramatically reduce transportation sector emissions of criteria air contaminants. The main source of these pollutants is associated with adverse health effects such as premature mortality, increased hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases.
“Beyond lifetime ownership cost savings and climate benefits, TAF’s analysis of the government’s proposed electric vehicle sales regulation shows staggering value from a health perspective,” says Julia Langer, CEO of The Atmospheric Fund. “We hope this excellent opportunity provides a compelling case for implementing these targets on schedule.”
TAF has monetized the cumulative health benefits of the ZEV sales targets using Health Canada metrics. The total savings are based on the reduced air pollution that would be realized across Canada’s two biggest mega regions, which represent 83% of total new passenger automobile sales and 74% of new truck sales in Canada. If extended to the rest of the country, the total cost savings would be even more staggering, at a time when Canada’s healthcare system is under extreme pressure.
“Climate change is the greatest health threat we face, and solving the climate crisis is our greatest health opportunity,” says Dr. Samantha Green, president-elect of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. “Air pollution is responsible for one in seven premature deaths in Canada, and tackling emissions related to personal vehicles will have tremendous immediate health benefits.”
For Canadians to realize these health, climate and financial impacts, the schedule and ambition of the proposed ZEV regulation would have to remain intact. Public and stakeholder consultations on the proposed regulation are underway until March 16, 2023.
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Notes to Editors
Analysis of Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Sales Regulation uses Health Canada’s benefits per tonne (BPTs) metrics to monetize the criteria air contaminant health impacts (see Health Benefits Per Tonne of Air Pollutant Emissions Reduction, Health Canada). Health Canada limits the use of these BPTs to estimate the benefits of reducing air pollution across two mega regions: southwestern British Columbia (SWBC) and the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor (WQCC) (see Air Quality, Public Health Ontario). These BPTs and a series of criteria air contaminant emission factors are then applied to the estimated annual gasoline fuel savings associated with new ZEV passenger automobile and light truck sales (see Air pollution: drivers and impacts, Environment and Climate Change Canada).
About The Atmospheric Fund
The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is a regional climate agency that invests in low-carbon solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and helps scale them up for broad implementation. We are experienced leaders and collaborate with stakeholders in the private, public and non-profit sectors who have ideas and opportunities for reducing carbon emissions. Supported by endowment funds, we advance the most promising concepts by investing, providing grants, influencing policies and running programs. We’re particularly interested in ideas that offer benefits in addition to carbon reduction such as improving people’s health, creating local jobs, boosting urban resiliency, and contributing to a fair society.
For more information or to coordinate interviews, please contact:
Julie Leach
jleach@taf.ca
+1 416-837-2404
As much as I want a shiny EV and agree there are many benefits to replacing the old carbon automobile, I will not decommission my 10 yr old very frugal vehicle anytime soon. I will not exploit the planet’s natural resources and damage Mother Nature this way.
My family and I have spent more than an estimated 15 yrs in adulthood without owning a car at all. After all, which is more environmentally friendly – building and operating EV cars and it’s twin reality, expanding the out of control road/highways Network or getting on a true rapid transit which actually encourages human interaction, reduces stress on our society and is far more energy efficient.
Despite the vote-getter, self serving appeal of shiny cars, it is NOT the ultimate solution.
A true and thoughtful integrated transportation policy, such as the uncrowded European highways testify to, is the REAL solution.
Focus people on a better long term solution.
Final tear on this topic – we can’t have everyone driving a car especially since the youth of today do not even want to drive or go to the office!
I live in a rural area and need transportation that does a min 60 klms and at times (quite often) 300 klms.
an EV would do just fine, just too expensive and hard to acquire
Hi Sean,
We hear you and agree that it is critical we build walkable communities and cities that have better, affordable, active and public transportation systems for all.
Transportation is one of the leading sources of emissions across Canada. TAF is committed to advocating for public transit, and a transition away from gas cars. The ZEV mandate is a tool to cut transportation emissions by moving away from purchase of gas cars in Canada. Our goal is a healthy, net-zero Canada by 2050.
Thanks for your response and feedback on this important issue.
Where is the data which supports that 90 billion $ savings in health spending? I don’t believe it.
Thank you for your question. TAF is always committed to sharing methodologies and data behind our work. Our research team analyzed the impacts of the ZEV policy using NRCan’s estimated emissions savings of passenger cars and light trucks, and applied a series of criteria air contaminants to calculate the air pollution reductions. We then applied Health Canada’s benefits per tonne factors, which monetize the air pollution reductions. This “monetization” uses valuations for mortality and morbidity of air pollution, essentially what are costs associated with respiratory symptoms and diseases and premature death.
We acknowledge the number is massive. For reference, Health Canada last year estimated that the health impacts from all types of air pollution (not just transportation) are $114 billion per year. If you’re interested in more detail, please contact us at communications@taf.ca and we can connect you with one of our analysts.