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NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRACKER

HOW HAVE EMISSIONS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS? 

Climate change is caused by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. Over the past 30 years, emissions in what is currently Canada have changed, both nationally, and within provinces and territories. Click on the location icons below to learn more about emissions and their changes in each specific region. 
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The graph above shows Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by province and territory for the years 1990, 2005 and 2018​ to show trends in provincial and territorial emissions. Note that data was not collected for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in 1990. Yukon's and Nunavut's emissions have been below 1 Mt Co2 eq for every year on record.  Northwest Territory's yearly emissions average 1.4 Mt Co2 eq from 2005 to 2018. 

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Data source: 

Environment and Climate Change Canada. Greenhouse gas sources and sinks: executive summary [Internet]. Ottawa ON: Environment Canada; c. 2020 [cited 2020 Oct 16]. about 34 p. Report No. 12: Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions/sources-sinks-executive-summary-2020.html#toc6

BC

BRITISH COLUMBIA

  • GHG emissions in British Columbia have increased by 20% since 1990. 

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  • British Columbia's emissions per capita are 36% below the national average and emissions per unit of GDP have consistently declined since 2001.

 

  • Transportation, oil and gas, and heavy industry are the largest polluting sectors in British Columbia at 37%, 22% and 14% of provincial emissions respectively. 

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  • From 1990 to 2017 the province's GHG emissions from electricity have declined while emissions from oil and gas increased. 

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Citation:

Environmental Reporting BC. 2019. Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in B.C. (1990-2017). State of Environment Reporting, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, British Columbia, Canada.

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Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – British Columbia  [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Sep 29, cited 2020 Oct 19]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-british-columbia.html

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AB

ALBERTA

  • Emissions have risen by 58% since 1990.

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  • Alberta's GHG emissions from oil and gas have increased from 1990 and the province still relies on coal for electricity generation. 

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  • 50% of the province's emissions come from the oil and gas sector, 16% from electricity generation, and 11% from transportation.

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  • Most of the greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector come from production, processing, and transmission activities primarily located in the oil sands.​

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  • There is currently no limit on GHG emissions from the oil sands. The provincial government has committed to:
    setting an overall limit on GHG emissions from the oil sands at 100 Mt/yr, with some exceptions By 2030. They have also committed to charging oil sands facilities $30/tonne of carbon.

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Citation:

Government of Alberta. Capping oil sand emissions. [Online]. Available from: https://www.alberta.ca/climate-change-alberta.aspx [Accessed 14 June 2020].

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Government of Alberta. Climate change in Alberta. [Online]. Available from: https://www.alberta.ca/climate-change-alberta.aspx [Accessed 14 June 2020].

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Government of Canada. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Alberta. [Online]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/ab-eng.html?=undefined&wbdisable=true [Accessed 14 June 2020].

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SK

SASKATCHEWAN

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  • Saskatchewan’s emissions have increased by 75% since 1990.

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  • Saskatchewan’s emissions per capita, at approximately 67.7 tonnes of CO2e, are the highest in Canada and 246% above the national average.

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  • The largest emitting sectors in Saskatchewan are oil and gas production at 33% of emissions, agriculture at 23%, and electricity generation at 20%.

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  • Saskatchewan’s electricity sector relies on coal-fired generation and is the second-largest emitter by electricity-generation in Canada after Alberta.          

Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profile - Saskatchewan [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24; cited 2020 May]. Available from https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/sk-eng.html

MB

MANITOBA

  • Manitoba’s GHG emissions have risen by 19% since 1990.​​

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  • The province's GHG emissions from oil and gas and electricity production have decreased since 1990 ​

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  • Virtually all of Manitoba's electricity is generated by renewable resources -Hydro sources generated 97% and wind power generated 3% in 2018.

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  • Agriculture, transportation, and buildings (residential and service industry) are the largest emitting sectors in Manitoba at 35%, 33%, and 14% of the province's emissions

Citation:

Climate Change Connection. GHG Emissions - Manitoba [Internet]. Canada: Climate Change Connection; N.d. [update 2020 Apr 28; cited 2020 May]. Available from: http://climatechangeconnection.org/emissions/manitoba-ghg-emissions/

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​Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profile - Manitoba [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Sep 29; cited 2020 Oct 16]. Available from https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-manitoba.html

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ON

ONTARIO

  • Ontario's emissions per capita are the second-lowest in the country and 42% below the national average. 

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  • ​Between 2005 and 2015 Ontario's emissions from electricity production fell by 80% as a result of retiring all of the province's coal-fired power plants. 

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  •  As of 2018, low-carbon sources are responsible for 96% of Ontario’s electricity production.

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  • Transportation, heavy industries, and buildings (residential and commercial) are important emitting sectors in Ontario. 

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  • The 2009 economic downturn greatly impacted Ontario's manufacturing sector which contributed to reductions in emissions from heavy industry. 

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Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Ontario [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24, cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/on-eng.html#:~:text=Ontario's%20GHG%20emissions%20from%20power,generation%20from%202005%20to%202014.

QC

QUEBEC

  • Quebec has the lowest emissions per capita in Canada, and their total provincial GHG emissions have decreased by 9% since 1990.

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  • Roughly 90% of all electricity generated in Quebec comes from renewable sources.

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  • In 2006 a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) was initiated, and in 2012, it was replaced with a new iteration. The plan works on 30 priorities and is working towards 150 actions overseen by the Quebec government.

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Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles - Quebec [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24; cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/qc-eng.html?=undefined&wbdisable=true

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Développment durable, Environnement et Parcs Quebec. 2006-2012 Action Plan Quebec and Climate Change A Challenge for the Future [Internet]. Quebec: Government of Quebec; 2008 [cited 2020 May]. 54 p. Available from: http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/changements/plan_action/2006-2012_en.pdf

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Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatique Québec. Reports on Climate Change Action Plans (CCAP) [Internet]. Quebec: Government of Quebec; N.d. [cited 2020 May]. Available from: http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/changementsclimatiques/bilan-en.htm

NL

NEWFOUNDLAND

& LABRADOR

  • Although Newfoundland and Labrador generated only 5% of Canada's total oil production in 2018, the province is the 3rd largest oil producer in Canada after Alberta and Saskatchewan

 

  • Newfoundland and Labrador is the 5th largest producer of electricity in Canada and 95% of electricity produced comes from hydropower 

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  • The largest emitting sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador are transportation, oil and gas, and electricity generation

​Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles - Newfoundland and Labrador [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Sep 29; cited 2020 Oct 08]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-newfoundland-labrador.html

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NB
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Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles - New Brunswick [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24; cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/nb-eng.html?=undefined&wbdisable=true

NEW BRUNSWICK

  • Transportation, electricity, and oil and gas sectors account for over 3/4 of the province's total GHG emissions sources.

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  • The vast majority of New Brunswick's 2017 GHG emissions from the oil and gas sector are attributed to petroleum refining.

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  • Provincial GHG emissions overall have decreased by 11% since 1990.​

NS

NOVA SCOTIA

  • ​Nova Scotia’s emissions decreased by 26% between 2005 and 2018.

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  • Policies targeting emissions from the electricity sector, such as an emissions cap for Nova Scotia Power, lead to higher utilization of natural gas and renewables and a reduction in coal-fired generation.

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  • From 2005 to 2015 Electricity demand significantly decreased in Nova Scotia due to reduced manufacturing activity.

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  • The province committed to increasing the share of electricity produced by renewables and the Community-Feed-In-Tariff program for wind power in 2010 and by 2015 wind power supplied 10% of Nova Scotia’s electricity generation.

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  • The main emitting sectors in Nova Scotia are electricity generation, transportation, and residential and commercial buildings at 42%, 31%, and 14% respectively.

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Citation:

Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Nova Scotia [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24, cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-nova-scotia.html

PEI

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

  • The main emitting sectors in PEI are transportation; including cars and trucks at 44% of emissions, agriculture; including methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizer at 26%, and buildings at 20%.

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  • PEI aims to reduce emissions to 40% below 2005 levels, to 0.9 Mt CO2 equivalent per year by 2030

 

  • PEI’s emissions in 2018 were 19% lower than 2005 levels; about halfway to the new target.

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  • In 2005, the Renewable Energy Act was implemented to encourage the development of renewable energies; now, about 25% of PEI’s energy needs are met by renewable energy.

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Citation:

Government of Prince Edward Island. Greenhouse Gas Emissions [Internet]. Canada; Government of Prince Edward Island; 2019 Nov 6 [cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/environment-water-and-climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions

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CBC News. Renewable energy requirements for P.E.I. electrical utilities removed. CBC [Internet]. 2016 Feb 18 [Cited 2020 May]; PEI; [about 1 p.]. Available from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-renewable-energy-requirements-1.3453412

YK

YUKON

  • Yukon's  GHG emissions per capita are 31% below the Canadian average.​

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  • Transportation accounts for the bulk of GHG emissions at 80% of total emissions, followed by buildings (residential and commercial) and industrial at 7% each.

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  • Yukon's  GHG emissions have decreased 1% since 1990.

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  • In 2018, hydropower generated 94% of Yukon's electricity.

​Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Yukon [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24, cited 2020 May]. Available from:

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/yt-eng.html

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NWT

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

  • GHG emissions from the North West Territories account for less than 1% of the national total but are the third highest in Canada per capita (at 33 tonnes per person) and the highest per capita of the territories.

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  • Between 2005 and 2013 GHG emissions from the electricity and transportation sectors decreased by approximately 33% and 21% respectively.

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  • In 2007, the Government of the Northwest Territories began investments in alternative energy and energy improvement projects, with emphasis on biomass for heating.

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  • In 2019 the Government of the Northwest Territories implemented a carbon tax with a rate starting at $20/tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, increasing annually, and reaching a rate of $50/tonne in 2022.

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Citation:

Government of Northwest Territories. NWT Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions [Internet]. Canada: Government of Northwest Territories; c. 2014 [cited 2020 May]. 1 p. Available from: https://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/sites/enr/files/ccsf_ghg_emissions_factsheet.pdf

 

Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources. Northwest Territories Greenhouse Gas Emissions Summary Report 2015 [Internet]. Canada: Government of Northwest Territories Government; 2015 [cited 2020 May]. 8 p. Available from: https://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/sites/enr/files/final_4-nwt_greenhouse_gas_summary_report_2015.pdf

 

Department of Finance. Implementing the NWT Carbon Tax [Internet]. Canada: Government of Northwest Territories; c. 2019 [cited 2020 May]. 2 p. Available from: https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/documents/implementing_nwt_carbon_pricing.pdf

NU

NUNAVUT

  • Nunavut became an official territory in the year 2000 and its GHG emissions have increased by 60% since then.

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  • Transportation is responsible for â…” (66%) of the province's GHG emissions.

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  • Nunavut's CO2 emissions per capita are 15.6 tonnes which is 21% below the Canadian average.

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  • As of 2003, the Government of Nunavut began collecting knowledge and information on climate change and its impacts, with emphasis on input from community elders.

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Citation:

Canada Energy Regulator. Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Nunavut [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; N.d. [updated 2020 Jun 24, cited 2020 May]. Available from: https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/nu-eng.html

 

 

Canada Energy Regulator. Market Snapshot: Explaining the high cost of power in northern Canada [Internet]. Canada: Government of Canada; 2017 Feb 16 [updated 2020 Feb 13; cited ] Available from https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/snpsht/2017/02-03hghcstpwr-eng.html

 

Department of Sustainable Development. Nunavut Climate Change Strategy [Internet]. Canada: Government of Nunavut; 2003 Oct [cited 2020 May]. 26 p. Available from: https://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/Climate%20Change%20Full%20English%20low.pdf

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