Canada's new Government provides online tool to help cities reduce greenhouse gases and polluting emissions

OTTAWA, Nov. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Transport Canada has launched a new onlinetool that helps cities estimate the annual impact on greenhouse gases andother emissions from transportation-related projects such as new transit orroads. "This Government is focused on improving the environment in Canada bytaking realistic action to reduce both air pollution and greenhouse gases,"said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, on behalf of theHonourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure andCommunities. "The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator is a simple anduser-friendly tool that demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment towork with cities to protect the environment," said Minister Cannon. "This toolhelps cities reduce greenhouse gases and protect the health of Canadians." The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator is an Internet-based toolfor urban transportation professionals to calculate transportation-relatedemissions, including greenhouse gases and criteria air contaminants(e.g. carbon, nitrous and sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds andparticles). The tool calculates both direct and indirect emissions frompassenger, commercial and urban transit vehicles. Direct emissions arereleased directly from the tailpipe of a vehicle, while indirect emissions arecreated and released from the production of electricity used by electricvehicles as well as from the production, refining and transportation oftransportation fuels. The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator also allows municipalitiesto plan and report transport-related emissions in a more standardized manner.It considers the impacts of new technologies and alternative fuels ongreenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants based on existing technologies andavailable data. In addition to the Emissions Calculator, Transport Canada provides a widevariety of resources to help Canadian municipalities implement transportationsolutions through the Urban Transportation Information Network atwww.tc.gc.ca/utsp. The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator is available online atwww.tc.gc.ca/UTEC. <<>>For further information: Natalie Sarafian, Press Secretary, Office of
the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa, (613)
991-0700; Robin Browne, Communications, Transport Canada, Ottawa, (613)
993-0055; Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news
releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/and keep up-to-date on the
latest from Transport Canada; This news release may be made available in
alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.