The Canadian government has announced new vehicle and fuel standards to reduce air pollution from on-road vehicles.

Canada's Tier 3 regulations will introduce stricter air pollutant emission standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and certain heavy-duty vehicles (such as delivery vans) beginning with the 2017 model-year, according to a release. The regulations will also reduce limits on the allowable sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017, aligning Canadian standards with those in the U.S.

The transportation sector is responsible for nearly 25 percent of Canadian greenhouse gas emissions and is a major source of smog-forming air pollutant emissions.

Air pollutant emissions from vehicles and fuels have continued to decrease as a result of regulatory actions. Specifically, total emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from passenger vehicles and light trucks operated on Canadian roads declined by nearly 40 percent between 2006 and 2013.

Once the Tier 3 vehicle standards reach full stringency with the 2025 vehicle model-year, the new standards are expected to represent a reduction of up to 80 percent in smog-forming air pollutant emissions for new vehicles compared to the current Tier 2 vehicle standards.

By 2030, the Tier 3 vehicle and fuel standards are expected to result in reductions in on-road vehicle fleet emissions of sulfur dioxide (43 percent), carbon monoxide (22 percent), volatile organic compounds (15 percent), nitrogen oxides (13 percent), fine particulate matter (8 percent), and certain other air pollutants, according to the release.