Taking Stock 16
August 17, 2023
Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America
Along with the energy, materials and items they produce, North American industries generate pollutants that must be managed to protect human health and the environment. Each year, facilities report the amounts of substances they release to air, water, or land, send to disposal, or transfer for recycling or other management. We integrate and analyze data reported to the Canadian, Mexican and US PRTRs and make them available to the public through Taking Stock Online and the Taking Stock report series.
Tracking progress towards reducing industrial pollution to meet the UN SDGs
Countries are taking action against toxic chemicals emitted by industrial facilities to air, water and land. How can countries track progress towards this target? A recent OECD report looks at Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) data as a means to track chemical pollution to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PRTRs are important tools that enhance the transparency and accountability of industry and measure progress towards SDG target 12.4.
Latest CEC Taking Stock report
Taking Stock, Volume 16 reveals the fate of the 5 billion kg of pollutants released or transferred in Canada, Mexico and the United States every year! Find out more about industrial pollution, and where it ends up, in our latest report featuring a special analysis of the 335 million kg transferred off-site for disposal each year. Our flagship report presents and analyzes PRTR data reported by approximately 24,000 industrial facilities across North America.
