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Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks

February 12, 2006

Home > GHG Inventory > Summary

Summary
Canada's 2003 Greenhouse gas inventory

2003 GHG Emission Trends

  • Total GHG emissions in Canada in 2003, expressed as "CO2 equivalent," (CO2 eq) were 740 Mt. This represents a 3.0 percent increase over the 2002 total of 719 Mt and a 24 percent increase over the 1990 total of 596 Mt. The increase from 2002 to 2003 was primarily due to a colder than average winter, coupled with increases in electricity production, vehicle transport and mining activity. From 2002 to 2003 Canada's GDP grew 1.7 percent.
  • Canada's overall GHG emissions intensity - the amount of GHG's emitted per unit of economic activity - was 1.2 percent higher in 2003 than 2002. Since 1990 the economy has grown by more than 42.8 percent (based on GDP), compared to a 24 percent increase in GHG emissions resulting in an average decrease in Canada's GHG emissions intensity of 1 percent per year (see Table 1). The recent positive year-over-year change in GHG intensity is a result of total GHG's growing more than total GDP over the same period

Major changes from the previous National Inventory Report

Owing to changes in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reporting guidelines, carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural soils and non-CO2 emissions from forest fires are now reported within the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector (previously known as Land-use Change and Forestry). Since the national inventory totals exclude the greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the (LULUCF) sector, these categories, previously included in the national totals, are now excluded. In addition, estimates for emissions from the aluminum production industry, which appear under Industrial Processes - Metal Production, have been revised, as well as the method of allocating emissions between domestic and international aviation. Taken together, these changes are the primary contributors to the revised national GHG estimates.

As a result, total GHG emissions previously reported for 1990 have been revised downward from 609 Mt to 596 Mt while emission estimates previously reported for 2002 have been revised downward from 731 Mt to 719 Mt. The overall impact of these changes is that emission growth over the period 1990-2002, previously reported to be 20.1%, is now estimated to be 20.7%.



Table 1 Annual Growth in Canada's GHG Emissions, Economy and GHG Intensity
  1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
GHG -1.2% 2.9% 0.4% 3.5% 2.7% 2.6% 1.8% 1.0% 2.0% 3.5% -1.1% 1.0% 3.0%
GDP -2.1% 0.9% 2.3% 4.8% 2.8% 1.6% 4.2% 4.1% 5.5% 5.3% 1.9% 3.3% 1.7%
GHG Intensity 0.9% 2.0% -1.9% -1.2% -0.1% 1.0% -2.3% -3.0% -3.4% -1.7% -3.0% -2.2% 1.2%
  • Between 2002 and 2003, emissions from almost all sectors were up. Energy, Industrial Process, Solvent, Agriculture and Waste were up by 2.9 percent, 2.0 percent, 0.9 percent, 4.7 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.
  • Between 1990 and 2003, significant growth in exports of natural gas to the United States resulted in a dramatic increase in the emissions associated with the production and transportation of natural gas. In 2003, these emissions were 25.6 Mt, a 101 percent increase over the 1990 level of 12.7 Mt.  

Short Term Comparisons: 2002-2003 (figure 1) 

Although year-to-year comparisons do not necessarily indicate a long-term trend, there are some short-term comparisons worth noting:

  • On average, Canadian homes and businesses required more energy for space heating in the winter of 2003 than in the winter of 2002 due to either colder temperatures or prolonged cold spells or both. In 2003, Heating Degree Days, an indicator of the necessity for space heating due to the severity of cold weather, were up 5.2 percent when compared to 2002. This fact almost certainly had a large impact on fossil fuel consumption, including the commercial/institutional and residential sectors, where emissions rose by a sum of almost 5.5 Mt from 2002. Overall, activities related to energy production and consumption were responsible for the vast majority of the total year-to-year increase in emissions, accounting for 16.9 Mt of the 21.3 Mt increase. 
  • The short term growth in emissions from 2002 can be attributed to a 3.9% increase in the combustion emissions from Electricity and Heat Generation, a 33% increase from the combustion emission from Mining, a 10% and 4.2% increase in the commercial/institutional and residential sectors respectively. 
  • Road transportation as a whole showed a modest increase in greenhouse gas emissions of 2.4 percent, with a 0.8% decrease in emissions from light duty gasoline cars offsetting a 3.0% increase in those from light duty gasoline trucks including pickup trucks, SUVs and some vans. Heavy duty diesel On-Road vehicles increased 6.2% while Off-Road emissions for both gasoline and diesel fueled sources each increased 12%.

Figure 1- Short Term (2002-2003) Changes in Selected Sectors (Mt CO2 eq)
Figure 1- Short Term (2002-2003) Changes in Selected Sectors (Mt CO<sub>2</sub> eq)
Click to enlarge

Long Term Comparisons: 1990-2003 (figure 2)

Sector Trends

Between 1990 and 2003, the net increase in Canada's annual GHG emissions totaled about 144 Mt. Over the same period, emissions from the Energy Industries and Transportation sector increased by 123 Mt, accounting for most of the overall increase.

Within these two sectors, the greatest contributors to the overall increase were the 41 percent increase in emissions from the Electricity and Steam Generation sector (38.9 Mt), and a 25 percent increase from Vehicles (33.1 Mt). Petroleum Industries also contributed significantly, with a total increase in GHG emissions of almost 50 percent between 1990 and 2003. Almost all of the increase in the Petroleum Industries sector is attributable to the rapid growth in crude oil and natural gas exports to the United States over the period.

Some of the growth in these sectors was mitigated by reduced emissions from the Industrial Process sector.

Energy Industries

Emissions from Energy Industries (including Fossil Fuel Industries, Electricity and Steam Generation, Mining, Fugitive releases and Combustion emissions from pipelines) rose by about 86.5 Mt between 1990 and 2003. Forty-five percent of that increase (38.9 Mt) was in Electricity and Steam Generation, a result of greater electricity demand coupled with continuing increases in the use of coal-fired generation over the period.

Fugitive releases (e.g. methane leaks from pipelines) contributed just as significantly to GHG emissions. The current estimates show an increase of 16 Mt between 1990 and 2003, a growth of about 42 percent. Most of this increase is the result of greater traffic through energy pipelines, largely due to higher crude oil and natural gas exports to the United States .

Transportation Sector

Emissions in the Transportation sector rose by about 36.7 Mt, or 26 percent from 1990 to 2003. Of particular note in this sector is a 20.2 Mt increase in emissions from light duty gasoline trucks, reflecting the growing popularity of sport utility vehicles. Emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles increased 17.5 Mt over the period, indicative of greater heavy truck transport. Offsetting these increases were reductions in emissions attributed to gasoline and alternatively fueled cars of 4.5 Mt and 1.4 Mt respectively.

Figure 2 Long Term (1990-2003) Changes in Selected Sectors (Mt CO2 eq)
Figure 2 Long Term (1990-2003) Changes in Selected Sectors (Mt CO<sub>2</sub> eq)
Click to enlarge
Region CANADA
Year 1990
Table Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emission Summary
Greenhouse Gas Categories Greenhouse Gases
CO2 CH4 CH4 N2O N2O HFCs PFCs SF6 TOTAL
Global Warming Potential 21 310
Unit kt kt kt CO2 eq kt kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq
TOTAL 460,000 3,500 73,000 170 52,000   6,300 4,900 596,000
ENERGY 428,000 2,000 30,000 30 8,000       469,000
a.Stationary Sources 276,000 200 4,000 7 2,000       282,000
Electricity and Heat Generation 94,700 1.8 38 2 500       95,300
Fossil Fuel Industries 50,000 80 2,000 1 400       52,000
Petroleum Refining 26,000 0.4 9 0.4 100       26,000
Fossil Fuel Production 23,600 80 2,000 0.7 200       25,000
Mining 6,160 0.1 3 0.1 40       6,200
Manufacturing Industries 54,400 3 60 2 500       54,900
Iron and Steel 6,420 0.2 5 0.2 60       6,490
Non Ferrous Metals 3,210 0.1 1 0.1 10       3,230
Chemical 7,060 0.15 3.0 0.1 40       7,100
Pulp and Paper 13,400 2 40 0.8 200       13,600
Cement 3,570 0.1 1 0.1 10       3,590
Other Manufacturing 20,700 0.4 9 0.4 100       20,900
Construction 1,860 0.03 0.7 0.1 20       1,880
Commercial & Institutional 25,700 0.5 10 0.5 200       25,800
Residential 41,300 100 2,000 2 500       44,000
Agriculture & Forestry 2,400 0.04 0.8 0.1 20       2,420
b.Transportation 142,000 30 600 20 6,000       150,000
Domestic Aviation 6,220 0.5 10 0.6 200       6,400
Road Transportation 103,000 16 350 12 3,600       107,000
Light Duty Gasoline Vehicles 51,600 9.0 190 6.3 2,000       53,800
Light Duty Gasoline Trucks 20,300 4.0 83 4.2 1,300       21,700
Heavy Duty Gasoline Vehicles 2,990 0.42 8.8 0.44 140       3,140
Motorcycles 225 0.18 3.8 0.00 1.4       230
Light Duty Diesel Vehicles 657 0.02 0.4 0.1 10       672
Light Duty Diesel Trucks 578 0.02 0.3 0.04 10       591
Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles 24,300 1 30 0.7 200       24,500
Propane & Natural Gas Vehicles 2,160 2 40 0.04 10       2,200
Railways 6,320 0.3 7 3 800       7,000
Domestic Marine 4,730 0.4 7 1 300       5,000
Others 22,000 10 300 4 1,000       20,000
Off Road Gasoline 5,000 6 100 0.1 30       5,000
Off Road Diesel 10,000 0.5 10 4 1,000       10,000
Pipelines 6,700 6.7 140 0.2 60       6,900
c.Fugitives 9,800 1,300 28,000           37,900
Coal Mining   90 2,000           2,000
Oil and Natural Gas 9,800 1,200 26,000           36,000
Oil 26.9 410 8,500           8,600
Natural Gas 19 820 17,000           17,000
Venting 4,500               4,500
Flaring 5,290 23.6 496           5,800
INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES 31,700     37.1 11,500   6,300 4,900 54,400
a.Mineral Production 7,800               7,800
Cement 5,600               5,600
Lime 2,000               2,000
Limestone and Soda Ash Use 440               440
b.Chemical Industry 5,000     37.1 11,500       17,000
Ammonia Production 5,000               5,000
Nitric Acid Production       2.5 780       780
Adipic Acid Production       34.6 10,700       10,700
c.Metal Production 9,700           6,300 3,110 19,100
Iron and Steel Production 7,060               7,060
Aluminum Production 2,600           6,300   8,930
SF6 Used in Magnesium Smelters and Casters               3,110 3,110
d.Consumption of Halocarbons and SF6               1,800 1,800
e.Other & Undifferentiated Production 9,200               9,200
SOLVENT & OTHER PRODUCT USE       1.3 420       420
AGRICULTURE   1,040 21,800 98 30,000       52,000
a.Enteric Fermentation   890 18,700           18,700
b.Manure Management   150 3,100 11 3,500       6,600
c.Agriculture Soils       87 27,000       27,000
Direct Sources       70 22,000       22,000
Indirect Sources       20 5,000       5,000
WASTE 250 900 19,000 3 900       20,000
a.Solid Waste Disposal on Land   880 19,000           19,000
b. Wastewater Handling   17 360 3 900       1,200
c.Waste Incineration 250 0.4 9 0.2 50       320
Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry 1 -160,000 40 830 2.3 730       -150,000
a.Forest Land -190,000 40 830 2.3 730       -190,000
b.Cropland 2 23,000               23,000
c.Grassland 5,000               5,000
d.Wetlands                  
e.Settlements 6,000               6,000

 

Region CANADA
Year 2002
Table Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emission Summary
Greenhouse Gas Categories Greenhouse Gases
CO2 CH4 CH4 N2O N2O HFCs PFCs SF6 TOTAL
Global Warming Potential 21 310
Unit kt kt kt CO2 eq kt kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq
TOTAL 568,000 4,500 94,000 150 48,000 3,100 2,710 4,000 719,000
ENERGY 528,000 2,000 40,000 30 10,000       583,000
a.Stationary Sources 338,000 200 5,000 8 3,000       346,000
Electricity and Heat Generation 128,000 4.7 99 2 700       129,000
Fossil Fuel Industries 70,000 100 2,000 2 500       73,000
Petroleum Refining 34,000 0.5 10 0.5 100       34,000
Fossil Fuel Production 36,200 100 2,000 1 300       39,000
Mining 11,700 0.2 5 0.3 90       11,800
Manufacturing Industries 48,600 3 60 2 500       49,100
Iron and Steel 6,420 0.2 5 0.2 60       6,490
Non Ferrous Metals 3,210 0.07 1 0.05 20       3,220
Chemical 6,090 0.12 2.6 0.1 30       6,130
Pulp and Paper 8,900 2 40 0.9 300       9,210
Cement 4,170 0.08 2 0.05 20       4,180
Other Manufacturing 19,800 0.4 8 0.4 100       19,900
Construction 1,230 0.02 0.5 0.03 9       1,240
Commercial & Institutional 35,200 0.6 10 0.7 200       35,400
Residential 41,000 90 2,000 2 500       44,000
Agriculture & Forestry 2,090 0.03 0.7 0.06 20       2,110
b.Transportation 174,000 30 600 30 8,000       180,000
Domestic Aviation 6,580 0.4 9 0.6 200       6,800
Road Transportation 131,000 12 260 17 5,300       137,000
Light Duty Gasoline Vehicles 47,600 4.0 84 6.7 2,100       49,700
Light Duty Gasoline Trucks 37,900 4.5 95 8.6 2,700       40,700
Heavy Duty Gasoline Vehicles 3,950 0.55 12 0.59 180       4,140
Motorcycles 222 0.18 3.7 0.00 1.3       227
Light Duty Diesel Vehicles 667 0.02 0.4 0.05 20       683
Light Duty Diesel Trucks 738 0.02 0.4 0.05 20       755
Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles 39,200 2 40 1 400       39,600
Propane & Natural Gas Vehicles 819 1 30 0.02 5       850
Railways 5,280 0.3 6 2 700       6,000
Domestic Marine 5,150 0.4 8 1 300       5,500
Others 26,000 20 300 5 2,000       30,000
Off Road Gasoline 4,000 4 90 0.08 20       4,000
Off Road Diesel 12,000 0.6 10 5 2,000       10,000
Pipelines 10,600 11 220 0.3 90       10,900
c.Fugitives 16,000 1,900 39,000           54,500
Coal Mining   50 1,000           1,000
Oil and Natural Gas 16,000 1,800 38,000           53,500
Oil 37.4 640 13,000           13,000
Natural Gas 29 1,100 24,000           24,000
Venting 8,100               8,100
Flaring 7,380 31.1 654           8,000
INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES 39,200     6.65 2,060 3,100 2,710 3,960 51,000
a.Mineral Production 8,600               8,600
Cement 6,700               6,700
Lime 2,000               2,000
Limestone and Soda Ash Use 230               230
b.Chemical Industry 6,200     6.65 2,060       8,300
Ammonia Production 6,200               6,200
Nitric Acid Production       2.6 810       810
Adipic Acid Production       4.03 1,250       1,250
c.Metal Production 12,000           2,690 2,910 17,100
Iron and Steel Production 7,110               7,110
Aluminum Production 4,400           2,690   7,110
SF6 Used in Magnesium Smelters and Casters               2,910 2,910
d.Consumption of Halocarbons and SF6           3,100 19 1,000 4,200
e.Other & Undifferentiated Production 13,000               13,000
SOLVENT & OTHER PRODUCT USE       1.5 470       470
AGRICULTURE   1,230 25,900 110 33,000       59,000
a.Enteric Fermentation   1,060 22,200           22,200
b.Manure Management   170 3,700 13 4,100       7,800
c.Agriculture Soils       95 29,000       29,000
Direct Sources       74 23,000       23,000
Indirect Sources       20 6,000       6,000
WASTE 290 1,100 24,000 3 1,000       25,000
a.Solid Waste Disposal on Land   1,100 23,000           23,000
b. Wastewater Handling   19 400 3 1,000       1,400
c.Waste Incineration 290 0.3 7 0.2 60       350
Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry 1 -37,000 91 1,900 7.1 2,200       -33,000
a.Forest Land -62,000 91 1,900 7.1 2,200       -58,000
b.Cropland 2 15,000               15,000
c.Grassland 5,000               5,000
d.Wetlands                  
e.Settlements 6,000               6,000


Region CANADA
Year 2003
Table Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emission Summary
Greenhouse Gas Categories Greenhouse Gases
CO2 CH4 CH4 N2O N2O HFCs PFCs SF6 TOTAL
Global Warming Potential 21 310
Unit kt kt kt CO2 eq kt kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq kt CO2 eq
TOTAL 586,000 4,500 94,000 160 50,000 3,100 2,760 4,100 740,000
ENERGY 546,000 2,000 40,000 30 10,000       600,000
a.Stationary Sources 351,000 200 5,000 9 3,000       358,000
Electricity and Heat Generation 133,000 5.0 110 2 800       134,000
Fossil Fuel Industries 69,000 100 2,000 2 500       71,000
Petroleum Refining 34,000 0.5 10 0.5 100       34,000
Fossil Fuel Production 34,800 100 2,000 1 300       38,000
Mining 15,600 0.3 7 0.3 100       15,700
Manufacturing Industries 48,600 3 60 2 500       49,200
Iron and Steel 6,360 0.2 5 0.2 60       6,420
Non Ferrous Metals 3,190 0.07 1 0.05 20       3,200
Chemical 5,700 0.12 2.5 0.1 30       5,740
Pulp and Paper 8,820 2 40 0.9 300       9,130
Cement 4,180 0.08 2 0.05 10       4,200
Other Manufacturing 20,400 0.4 9 0.4 100       20,500
Construction 1,290 0.02 0.5 0.03 9       1,300
Commercial & Institutional 38,800 0.7 10 0.8 200       39,000
Residential 42,800 90 2,000 2 500       45,000
Agriculture & Forestry 2,200 0.04 0.8 0.06 20       2,210
b.Transportation 179,000 30 600 30 8,000       190,000
Domestic Aviation 7,000 0.4 9 0.7 200       7,200
Road Transportation 135,000 12 260 17 5,100       140,000
Light Duty Gasoline Vehicles 47,300 3.7 78 6.3 1,900       49,300
Light Duty Gasoline Trucks 39,200 4.5 94 8.4 2,600       41,900
Heavy Duty Gasoline Vehicles 3,950 0.55 12.0 0.59 180       4,140
Motorcycles 221 0.18 3.7 0.00 1.3       226
Light Duty Diesel Vehicles 706 0.02 0.4 0.05 20       723
Light Duty Diesel Trucks 775 0.02 0.4 0.06 20       793
Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles 41,600 2 40 1 400       42,000
Propane & Natural Gas Vehicles 780 1 30 0.02 5       810
Railways 5,260 0.3 6 2 700       6,000
Domestic Marine 5,830 0.5 10 1 300       6,100
Others 26,000 10 300 6 2,000       30,000
Off Road Gasoline 4,000 5 100 0.09 30       4,000
Off Road Diesel 13,000 0.7 10 5 2,000       20,000
Pipelines 8,850 8.8 190 0.2 70       9,110
c.Fugitives 15,000 1,800 39,000           54,000
Coal Mining   50 1,000           1,000
Oil and Natural Gas 15,000 1,800 38,000           53,000
Oil 47.1 630 13,000           13,000
Natural Gas 29 1,100 24,000           24,000
Venting 7,800               7,800
Flaring 7,380 31.2 654           8,000
INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES 40,200     6.1 1,890 3,100 2,760 4,070 52,000
a.Mineral Production 8,700               8,700
Cement 6,800               6,800
Lime 2,000               2,000
Limestone and Soda Ash Use 230               230
b.Chemical Industry 6,200     6.1 1,890       8,100
Ammonia Production 6,200               6,200
Nitric Acid Production       2.6 810       810
Adipic Acid Production       3.5 1,090       1,090
c.Metal Production 12,000           2,740 2,480 16,800
Iron and Steel Production 7,040               7,040
Aluminum Production 4,600           2,740   7,320
SF6 Used in Magnesium Smelters and Casters               2,480 2,480
d.Consumption of Halocarbons and SF6           3,100 19 1,600 4,700
e.Other & Undifferentiated Production 14,000               14,000
SOLVENT & OTHER PRODUCT USE       1.5 480       480
AGRICULTURE   1,240 26,100 120 36,000       62,000
a.Enteric Fermentation   1,070 22,400           22,400
b.Manure Management   170 3,700 13 4,100       7,800
c.Agriculture Soils       100 32,000       32,000
Direct Sources       82 25,000       25,000
Indirect Sources       20 7,000       7,000
WASTE 290 1,100 24,000 3 1,000       25,000
a.Solid Waste Disposal on Land   1,100 24,000           24,000
b. Wastewater Handling   19 410 3 1,000       1,400
c.Waste Incineration 290 0.3 7 0.2 60       360
Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry 1 -46,000 43 900 3.2 1,000       -44,000
a.Forest Land -71,000 43 900 3.2 1,000       -69,000
b.Cropland 2 14,000               14,000
c.Grassland 5,000               5,000
d.Wetlands                  
e.Settlements 6,000               6,000

Notes:

1 National totals exclude all GHGs from the Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry sector. CO2 from agricutural soils and non-CO2 emissions from forest fires, which were previously included in national totals, are now excluded.

2 CO2 estimates from Cropland include about 16 Mt CO2 of annual emissions due to land conversion to CroplandTotals may not add due to rounding. 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

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Last updated: 2006-02-12
Last reviewed: 2006-02-12