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

Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic slowdown, according to new figures released by the federal government.

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

But Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the 2022 numbers are a sign his government's climate policies are working, with emissions totals the lowest in 25 years aside from the pandemic years.

"The report shows that Canada remains on track to meet our emission-reduction goals," Guilbeault told a news conference Thursday.

"We're doing this as our country rebounds strongly from the global impact of the pandemic."

Guilbeault said the numbers show the country remains on track for its 2030 goals. 

The annual report is submitted to the United Nations and details Canada's progress on its emissions reduction plan.

Oil and gas sector leading source

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, while emissions produced from the making of electricity as the country has moved away from coal-powered plants.

Patrick Bonin, a climate campaigner at Greenpeace Canada, said an increase in emissions had been expected given the economic upswing, and that "the good news is that the rebound is lower than expected."

Bonin said the figures show that regulations aimed at reducing emissions have been effective. A missing link in the current climate plan is a cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector, he said.

"The federal government must act quickly to implement the long-delayed emissions cap on this sector," added Nichole Dusyk, a senior policy advisor at the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

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.

Canada on track?

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, though some experts questioned whether that was the case.

The Calgary-based Pembina Institute pointed out Canada's emissions in 2022 were only seven per cent lower than 2005 levels — meaning there is still a significant amount of work to do to ensure they are 40 to 45 per cent lower than 2005 levels by 2030.

In a statement, Pembina highlighted the lagging performance of Alberta in particular, which has seen emissions rise by seven per cent since 2005.

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Dave Sawyer, principal economist for the Canadian Climate Institute, said the results were largely positive and showed a "clear evidence that Canada continues to decouple emissions from economic growth."

In addition to oil and gas, he said improvements could be made when it comes to the building and agriculture sectors to decrease emissions.