Emissions
James Bay, more than any other area in the region, is challenged by emissions. Noxious emissions are created by marine activity, land transportation, and aircraft operations – from both float planes and commercial helicopters.
With the cruise industry intending to double in passenger count during the next decade there will a call for additional land transportation.
Tour buses, and other land transportation vehicles are gradually becoming ‘cleaner’. However, the conversion to electric or zero-emission vehicles has been significantly slower than observed in other tourist-focussed jurisdictions, with no electric or zero-emission buses providing regular transport in the City as of 2019. Similarly, BC Transit has also been slow to convert its fleet of buses.
Cruise Ship Emissions
The North American Emission Control Area (ECA) regulations, which came into effect on 1st January 2015, reduced the maximum permissible sulphur content to 0.1%. As a result James Bay no longer experiences high, unhealthy, levels of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) noted in the “Cruise Related Reports” webpage.
However, cruise lines are permitted to use alternate methods of achieving low sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels in the ship emissions. When scrubbers are employed the ships may revert to the use of high sulphur content fuel raising two additional concerns:
- the emission of fine and ultra fine, extremely hazardous to health, airborne particles, and
- the dumping of scrubber sludge into the ocean.
Emissions from cruise ships carry over much of the region and are estimated to create over 10,000 tons GHG each season while docked at Ogden Point, within the boundaries of the City of Victoria.
Aircraft Emissions
Aircraft emissions, from both helicopter and float-plane operations have not altered over the past decade. The major concern is volatile organic compounds, some of which are know carcinogens. Aerodrome emissions are discussed on page 3 & 4 of the September, 2011, Aerodrome Noise & Emissions Victoria Harbour report.
