Canada's greenhouse gas emissions climbed in 2022, after pandemic slowdown

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Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic slowdown, according to figures obtained by Radio-Canada. However, the government sees the numbers as an encouraging sign, because they are lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Emissions for 2022 lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to Radio-Canada

Laurence Martin · CBC News

· Posted: May 02, 2024 10:12 AM EDT | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago

Steam billows from the Sheerness coal fired generating station near Hanna, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016.

Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic slowdown, according to figures obtained by Radio-Canada ahead of today's government announcement.

The new National Inventory Report data shows emissions reached 708 megatonnes in that year, compared with 698 megatonnes in 2021.

But the office of Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault said the 2022 data are an encouraging sign, because they were lower than those of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year when emissions were compiled.

That year, 752 megatonnes of emissions were produced in Canada — 44 more than in 2022.

Greenpeace spokesperson Patrick Bonin told Radio-Canada an increase in emissions had been expected given the economic upswing, and that "the good news is that the rebound is lower than expected."

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Bonin said the figures show that regulations aimed at reducing emissions have been effective.

He said the missing link in the current climate plan is a cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector. Last December, the Liberal government committed to capping emissions from the oil and gas industry, but not before 2026.

Additional details of the plan, and its precise timetable, are expected in the coming months.

The oil and gas sector was once again the largest source of emissions in Canada in 2022, accounting for a little more than 30 per cent of the total. Emissions related to the transportation sector came second.

The Liberal government has committed to cutting emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

That plan calls for a 20 per cent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2026 — to 586 megatonnes. Projections released by the federal government last year showed Canada was on track to reach that target.

Full details of the National Inventory Report will be released later today.