OTTAWA, May 25, 2007 –As
part of its international obligations, Environment
Canada submitted today its annual national
greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 2005
to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“This information tells us that greenhouse
gases are still over 32% higher than our
Kyoto target,” stated the Honourable John
Baird, Minister of the Environment. “This
is why this government has put forward a
concrete action plan to reduce greenhouse
gases and air pollutants.”
The data show that Canada’s GHG emissions
in 2005 were 747 megatonnes (Mt), representing
an increase of 25.3% over the 11000 level
of 596 Mt, a 0.3% increase from 2003, and
no increase from 2004. The 2005 greenhouse
gas emissions were 32.7% above the Kyoto
target.
The report notes that emissions continued
to increase from the transportation sector
and that there was an almost flat growth
in GHG emissions from 2003 and 2005. This
was primarily due to a significant decline
in emissions from electricity as well as
a reduced demand for heating fuels due to
warmer winters, and a reduced rate of increase
in fossil fuel production also caused this
low growth in GHG emissions.
“The slow down in GHG growth appears to
have been the result of action taken by
the provinces to reduce coal-fired and increase
nuclear and hydro-electricity generation,”
said Minister Baird. “Unfortunately the
previous Liberal Government did not deliver
on its promise to reduce GHGs. Canada’s
New Government will reverse this trend and
build on initiatives such as Canada’s $1.5
billion trust for clean air and climate
change so that we can work with the provinces
and territories to reduce GHGs and air emissions.“
The data submitted to the UNFCCC contains
updated estimates from previous years. More
accurate measuring methods were developed
and this enabled Environment Canada to provide
consistent and comparable trend information
for emissions and removals estimates.
Canada’s New Government is taking a leadership
role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and air pollution with diversified and complementary
measures, including its aggressive regulations
to reduce emissions in all sectors. These
initiatives will stop the increase of greenhouse
gas emissions by 2010 and no later than
2012 and achieve an absolute reduction of
150 megatonnes of greenhouse gases by 2020.
This plan will also cut air pollution from
industry in half by 2015.
For more information about the Government
of Canada’s environmental initiatives, please
visit http://www.ec.gc.ca
Related Documents
National Inventory Report, 11000-2005 -
Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
