Public statement on the SEA conducted for the Landfill Methane Regulations

Key findings from the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) conducted for the Landfill Methane Regulations (the Regulations), as published in the Canada Gazette.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a major contributor to climate change. Methane is a powerful GHG responsible for about 30% of global warming. Methane has at least 28 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 100-year period and has a relatively short atmospheric lifespan, meaning emission reductions can deliver near-term climate benefits.

The Government of Canada’s Methane Strategy commits to reducing methane emissions by 35% below 2020 levels by 2030. It also set a target to cut landfill methane emissions by about 50% below 2019 levels by 2030.

In 2023, Canadian landfills produced 17% of national methane emissions and 2.7% of national GHG emissions. Although voluntary and regulatory measures have existed for decades, further reductions are still possible. Achieving these reductions by 2030 requires a consistent and stringent regulatory approach.

The government finalized the Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to reduce methane emissions from landfills that receive municipal solid waste. The Regulations use a performance-based approach to achieve these reductions.

The Regulations require certain landfills that have received municipal solid waste to:

• meet performance standards to help control methane emissions at the landfill surface
• limit venting of methane to the atmosphere
• destroy recovered methane
• use monitoring programs to find methane leaks and areas where surface methane levels are above the limit

Methane is listed as a toxic substance under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to CEPA, giving Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) the authority to develop, administer, and enforce regulatory measures to manage its emissions.

Anticipated environmental impacts

In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, an SEA was conducted for the Regulations. The SEA found that the Regulations are expected to reduce emissions of GHGs by just over 7 Mt CO₂ eq per year in 2030 relative to baseline projections. The methane emission reductions achieved through implementation of the Regulations will help Canada meet its commitment under the Global Methane Pledge.

Reducing landfill methane emissions will benefit all Canadians by mitigating the impacts of climate change. These impacts include more frequent and stronger severe weather events. These events can damage homes and put people’s lives at risk. Reducing GHG emissions will reduce or limit costs attributed to these events.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the United Nations 2030 Agenda

The Regulations will contribute to the following 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals and associated United Nations 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts (FSDS Goal 13) and SDG 13 – Climate Action

• This FSDS goal identifies actions to reduce methane and other emissions as a priority
  • Under Goal 13, Canada’s Methane Strategy is listed as a short-term milestone that helps support the FSDS target to reduce Canada’s emissions.
  • The Regulations are part of Canada’s Methane Strategy and are expected to reduce annual GHG emissions from landfills by 42% by 2030 (from 2019 levels), contributing significantly toward the Government’s broader 50% landfill methane reduction target.

Increase Canadians’ Access to Clean Energy (FSDS Goal 7) and SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

• The Regulations will support the production of low-carbon energy, including electricity, heat, and renewable natural gas
  • The landfill methane recovered can be used to produce clean energy.

Monitoring and reporting

The Regulations include monitoring and reporting requirements. These activities will give ECCC the data it needs to evaluate how well the Regulations are working. The activities will also contribute data to the National Inventory Report (NIR) on GHG Sources and Sinks. ECCC has developed a plan that sets performance measures and explains how progress toward methane emission reductions will be tracked and reported.

The environmental results of the Regulations will be shared through:

• the NIR on GHG Sources and Sinks
• the CEPA Annual Report
• an indicator in ECCC’s Departmental Results Report