The Ozone Annex will address health and environmental challenges common to both countries by reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, leading to reductions in ground-level ozone concentrations in both countries.
Ozone is a significant contributor to smog.
These negotiations recognize that smog doesn't respect borders. Securing an ozone agreement with the U.S. is critical to reducing air pollution in Canada. It is a direct cause of serious health problems in Canada and the United States, including respiratory distress, increased hospital visits and admissions and premature deaths. Scientific evidence indicates that there are over 5,000 premature deaths annually in Canada due to air pollution. Ozone has been identified as a major contributing component.