Metro Vancouver’s Clean Air Plan (2021) is the regional plan for managing air quality and greenhouse gases over the next 10 years. The Clean Air Plan includes key actions to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this region, in pursuit of 2030 emissions targets. It also includes actions to reduce health harming air contaminants, to improve day to day air quality. ​

The regional Clean Air Plan aligns with the Province’s CleanBC plan, and represents a coordinated approach from local governments across the Metro Vancouver region.

The Clean Air Plan includes significant next steps in moving towards regional carbon neutrality by 2050 – a priority of the Metro Vancouver Board.

The Clean Air Plan includes these regional targets for 2030:

1. Reduce greenhouse gases by 45% from 2010 levels;
   
2. Air quality in the region is continually improving, protecting human health and the environment, by ensuring that: Ambient air quality meets or is better than the ambient air quality objectives and standards that are regularly updated by Metro Vancouver, the BC Government and the Government of Canada; and the amount of time that visual air quality is classified as "excellent" is increasing.
   

Working Together on Climate Action

Metro Vancouver and local governments have been taking action on air quality for decades. Examples of air quality actions include: an air quality monitoring network; ozone management programs; an air quality regulation and enforcement program; and actions to reduce smoke from wood burning.

Local governments also take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as: investments in green infrastructure; electric vehicle programs; low-carbon home heating; developing walkable neighbourhoods; and establishing carbon pricing policies to incorporate emissions considerations into decision making.

But we need to do more - and to increase the focus on greenhouse gas emissions.

The Plan is intended to provide deep reductions in regional GHG emissions and yield air quality health benefits estimated at up to$1.6 billion.

The Clean Air Plan was developed with input from stakeholders across the region. Implementation requires a coordinated effort among Metro Vancouver and other organizations. Progress is publically reported.