Though Canada has failed to meet the Kyoto goals within the stipulated time, it seems to be trying hard to make the ends meet, as far as global warming-related initiatives are concerned.
It is now the turn of the Canadian railways to do its bit to relieve the environment from the greenhouse gas emissions.
In cue to this, a framework for rail companies is provided by a MOU signed by Ottawa and the Railway Association of Canada. The framework bids to use engines that can lower emissions and are EPA-mandated. The targets are to be met by 2010.
The agreement also demands that the railways should retire 130 medium-horsepower locomotives that were built between 1973 and 1999, which are generally pollution-creating.
The framework requires that the existing in-service locomotives are upgraded as they are overhauled. This would eventually help the railways meet the targets that lead to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And, for this the agreement requires the railways to prepare an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To help reach the MOU goals, Ottawa will be working with the rail industry before putting the official regulations are put to place in 2011.
