Alberta was Canada’s most polluting province by far in 2021, having emitted over 256 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e). This was an increase of 55 percent compared to 1990 levels. Ontario – Canada's most populous province – was responsible for the second largest volume of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, at 150.6 MtCO₂e. Unlike Alberta, Ontario’s emissions have fallen since 2005.
Canada’s oil sands emissions
Alberta’s large oil and gas industry is the main contributor to the province’s high emissions. Alberta is home to vast oil sands where some of the most carbon polluting sites in Canada are located – such as the Syncrude project on the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit. The Syncrude Project is a joint venture between Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil, Sinopec, and CNOOC.
COVID-19 impact on Canada’s emissions
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 and resulting lockdowns and restrictions caused Canada’s carbon dioxide emissions to plummet nearly nine percent to 535 million metric tons that year. This was Canada’s lowest annual emissions for more than two decades. Nevertheless, Canada was still one of the world’s largest emitters in 2020.
FAQs
Greenhouse gas emissions in Canada 1990-2021, by province
Which Canadian province has the highest carbon emissions? ›
Alberta is the most polluting province in Canada, with its oil and gas industry a major emitter.
Where do most greenhouse gas emissions come from in Canada? ›
The largest contributor to Canada's GHG emissions is the energy sector, which includes power generation (heat and electricity), transportation, and fugitive sources.
Which of the following Canadian provinces is Canada's largest producer of greenhouse gases? ›
In 2021, Alberta accounted for almost 40% of the total Canadian GHG emissions while Ontario represented just over 20% and Quebec over 10%.
Why does Alberta have a large GHG output? ›
Alberta's electricity sector produces more GHG emissions than any other province because of its size and reliance on coal-fired generation.
What province in Canada has the most fossil fuels? ›
Alberta is the leading producer of fossil fuels, Quebec is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, and Ontario is the largest producer of nuclear energy.
What region of Canada has the most pollution? ›
How polluted is Canada?
| 2023 Canada cleanest city | Prince Rupert , British Columbia 15 |
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| 2023 Canada most polluted city | Grimshaw , Alberta 85 |
May 25, 2024
Source: World Resources Institute (2023) Climate Watch Country Historical Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Although Canada is ranked 11th in the world for total GHG emissions, Canada has the second-highest GHG emission per capita rate among the top 11 emitting countries and regions.
Which two sectors are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canadian cities? ›
Share of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada 2022, by sector
Oil sands operations account for almost half of Canada's oil and gas industry emissions. The transportation sector was Canada's second-highest GHG emitter in 2022, with a share of just over 22 percent of total emissions.
What percentage of GHG emissions is caused by road transport in Quebec? ›
With 40% of overall emissions, half of which come from light vehicles, the transportation industry is Québec's biggest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter. These emissions have been constantly rising since 1990.
The majority of Canada's oil and natural gas output is in Alberta; in contrast, hydroelectric and renewable energy make up a larger share of energy output in Quebec and British Columbia.
Which Canadian province produces the most natural gas? ›
Natural gas production in Canada 2020, by region
Alberta is the largest natural gas producing province in Canada. In 2020, over 121 billion cubic meters of natural gas were sourced from gas fields in Alberta. This was nearly double the amount extracted in British Columbia, which ranked second.
What is Canada's largest polluter? ›
Largest GHG emitters in Canada 2022, by source
The Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil-owned oil and gas field produced an estimated 20.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) that year. All but two of the 10 biggest GHG polluters in Canada were oil and gas field in 2022.
Which province in Canada pollutes the most? ›
Alberta was Canada's most polluting province by far in 2021, having emitted over 256 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e).
Why does Alberta produce so much pollution? ›
Alberta's oilsands pump out more pollutants than industry reports, scientists find. Alberta's oilsands operations produce far more potentially harmful air pollutants than officially recorded — putting the daily output on par with those from gridlocked megacities like Los Angeles, new research suggests.
Where does most of Canada's pollution come from? ›
CO2 emissions per capita in Canada
The vast majority of CO2 emissions in the energy sector come from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for power generation or to fuel vehicles and machines.
What is the biggest polluter in Canada? ›
Largest GHG emitters in Canada 2022, by source
The Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil-owned oil and gas field produced an estimated 20.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) that year. All but two of the 10 biggest GHG polluters in Canada were oil and gas field in 2022.
Which province has carbon tax in Canada? ›
WHAT PROVINCES USE THE FEDERAL SYSTEMS? Currently British Columbia, Quebec and Northwest Territories are the only provinces or territories with their own carbon price for all sources of emissions. Manitoba, P.E.I., Yukon and Nunavut use both the federal fuel charge and the output-based pricing system.
Which province in Canada uses the most energy? ›
In 2020, the province of Quebec had the highest electricity use share in Canada, accounting for some 36.8 percent of the national usage.
What is Canada ranked in CO2 emissions? ›
In 2020, Canada ranked as the 11th largest GHG emitting country/region. Canada's share of global emissions decreased from 1.8% in 2005 to 1.5% in 2020.
