VANCOUVER | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) FIRST NATIONS — Today, Canada sent its latest official greenhouse gas inventory for 2021 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The report covers human-caused emissions by source and uses improved methodologies to update estimates back to 1990. This report shows an 11.6-megatonne emissions increase after the decline reported in the first year of the pandemic (2020), when travel and other economic activities dropped precipitously. The three major sources for emissions increases were the oil and gas sector, the transportation sector and electricity generation.
David Suzuki Foundation senior policy adviser Tom Green said:
“Despite emissions increases, we’re seeing signs that policies are starting to bend down the curve.
“Yet again, the most polluting sector is oil and gas — accounting for more than a quarter (28 per cent) of Canada’s emissions. We need further regulations to clamp down on industry and enforce a cap on oil and gas emissions. Government needs to finalize these regulations quickly, so they can play their vital role in driving down emissions.
“UN reports continue to say we’re in the critical decade for climate action. As we work to limit harmful emissions from the fossil fuel industry, Canada’s upcoming Clean Electricity Regulations for 100 per cent clean electricity by 2035 become even more important. These regulations can bring down electricity sector emissions and avoid even further emissions increases as provinces like Ontario and Alberta promote high-emitting gas-powered options.
“The fossil fuel supremacy era must end if we want to bend down emissions. We’re on the right path through national regulations and policies, but we need to use all the tools in our toolbox. Canada can and must do better.”
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For more information or media interviews, please contact:
Brendan Glauser, bglauser@davidsuzuki.org, (604) 356-8829