Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has recently published new data on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity in Canada for 2022, providing crucial environmental and ecological indicators for the country.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Climate change remains a critical environmental issue, driven by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. These emissions primarily result from human activities such as fossil fuel use and agriculture, impacting the environment, human health, and the economy. The latest data reveals key insights into Canada’s GHG emissions over time.
Key Results:
- Canada’s total GHG emissions in 2022 were 708 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq), marking a 1.3% increase from 2021’s 698 Mt CO2 eq.
- From 2005 to 2022, Canada’s GHG emissions decreased by 7.1% (54 Mt CO2 eq).
- Between 1990 and 2022, Canada’s GHG emissions increased by 16.5% (100 Mt CO2 eq).
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Large Facilities:
GHG emissions from large facilities represent a significant portion of Canada’s industrial emissions and contribute substantially to the country’s total GHG output.
Key Results:
- In 2022, 293 megatonnes (Mt) of GHGs in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) were emitted by 1,814 facilities reporting to the Government of Canada’s GHG Reporting Program.
- Emissions from these facilities accounted for 41% of Canada’s total GHG emissions.
Biodiversity Indicators:
Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for sustaining natural ecosystems and supporting wildlife habitats in Canada’s agricultural landscapes.
Key Results:
- In 2020, Canada’s agricultural landscape’s ability to support wildlife was rated as moderate.
- The largest proportion of the landscape (37%) was rated as high in terms of supporting wildlife.
- From 2000 to 2020, the ability of Canada’s agricultural landscape to support wildlife remained stable for approximately 78%, but declined for about 22%.
This data underscores Canada’s ongoing efforts to monitor and manage its environmental impacts, highlighting both areas of improvement and ongoing challenges in maintaining biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as climate change appears to be responsible for various natural disasters, including the deadly wildfires that erupted across Western Canada last month.