Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2022: chapter 2.5

2.5 Carbon monoxide (CO)

In 2020, approximately 4.7 Mt of carbon monoxide (CO) were released in Canada (Table 2–7). Transportation and Mobile Equipment accounted for 62% (2.9 Mt) of total emissions, with the Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles sectors contributing 24% (1.1 Mt) and the Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment sector contributing 25% (1.2 Mt) of total CO emissions. The next-largest contributors are Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources, which in 2020 accounted for 12% (581 kt) of emissions, almost all owing to contributions from Home Firewood Burning at 12% (540 kt) of total CO emissions. The Upstream Oil and Gas Industry and Aluminium Industry sectors were the largest-emitting industrial contributors, accounting for 10% (489 kt) and 8.1% (378 kt) of CO emissions, respectively.

Between 1990 and 2020, CO emissions decreased by 59% (6.8 Mt) (Figure 2–5). Of the many contributors to the overall decrease in emissions, two in particular—Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles, and Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment (spark ignition engines)—had the largest impact on emission reductions. The decreasing emission trend in these sectors is due to increasingly stringent engine and vehicle regulations.^{Footnote 7} Moreover, Transportation and Mobile Equipment CO emissions decreased by 8.6% (272 kt) between 2019 and 2020. This reduction is mostly due to a decrease in the VKT in the Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles and Trucks categories.

Emissions from Wood Products manufacturing declined from 1995 to 2020 due to the removal of incinerators at sawmill and panel board mill facilities that incinerated hog fuel. Furthermore, emissions from Prescribed Burning, within the Fires category, have decreased considerably over the time series, which can be explained by the reduced use of this practice compared to 1990.

Finally, the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry sector experienced an increase in CO emissions across the time series, but experienced a decrease between 2019 and 2020. The increase between 1990 and 2020 is attributed to expansion and growth in the oil and gas industry. The decrease between the years 2019 and 2020 can be partly attributed to a 5% reduction in total crude oil production and a 2% reduction in natural gas production.

The most significant changes in CO emissions from 1990 to 2020 include:

Transportation and mobile equipment: decrease of 64% (5.2 Mt), with:
- Light-duty gasoline trucks and vehicles: decrease of 71% (3.4 Mt)
- Off-road gasoline/LPG/NG vehicles and equipment: decrease of 51% (1.2 Mt)
Manufacturing: decrease of 91% (1.2 Mt)
- Wood Products: decrease of 97% (1.0 Mt)
Fires: decrease of 94% (417 kt), with:
- Prescribed Burning: decrease of 94% (416 kt)
Oil and Gas Industry: increase of 49% (166 kt), with:
- Upstream Oil and Gas Industry: increase of 59% (182 kt)

Figure 2–5: Trends in Canadian CO emissions (1990 to 2020)

Long description for Figure 2–5

Figure 2–5 is a stacked area graph displaying the six major contributors to national CO trends that are the following: Prescribed Burning, Wood Products, Upstream Oil and Gas Industry, Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles, Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment, and Other. Figure shows an important reduction in emissions between 1990 and 2020. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2020.

Figure 2–5: Trends in Canadian CO emissions (1990 to 2020) (kt)
Sector	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment	2 365	2 299	2 356	2 401	2 404	2 429	2 412	2 320	2 275	2 284	2 116	1 757	1 826	1 825	1 956	1 798	1 824	1 814	1 728	1 666	1 644	1 417	1 283	1 270	1 296	1 257	1 136	1 183	1 211	1 202	1 170
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles	4 488	4 231	4 181	4 140	4 067	3 871	3 705	3 582	3 479	3 348	3 342	3 155	2 906	2 741	2 491	2 017	1 817	1 758	1 681	1 550	1 485	1 371	1 288	1 259	1 196	1 201	1 250	1 253	1 269	1 286	1 108
Prescribed Burning	441	491	297	480	446	477	316	152	143	131	76	60	41	212	31	51	53	26	84	99	52	71	90	33	135	131	121	51	29	35	25
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry	307	298	315	339	376	384	398	445	465	478	422	439	468	507	465	474	471	504	519	505	498	513	517	522	534	535	521	530	537	526	489
Wood Products	1 072	1 073	1 073	1 080	1 074	1 069	999	933	881	826	789	733	606	499	435	392	251	196	143	125	109	72	114	101	73	51	43	40	35	46	34
Other	2 810	2 911	3 025	3 079	3 124	3 118	3 171	3 254	3 170	3 154	3 258	3 036	3 012	2 932	2 850	2 617	2 447	2 493	2 423	2 309	2 249	2 203	2 081	2 153	2 019	1 976	1 989	2 064	2 032	1 967	1 829

Table 2-7: National summary of annual CO emissions

Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
- Indicates no emissions

Ore and Mineral Industries (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	390 000	390 000	500 000	510 000	560 000	590 000	530 000	510 000	510 000
Aluminium Industry	240 000	250 000	310 000	380 000	420 000	430 000	380 000	360 000	380 000
Asphalt Paving Industry	4 200	4 200	4 500	3 300	3 100	3 400	3 500	3 600	3 200
Cement and Concrete Industry	15 000	22 000	27 000	10 000	13 000	16 000	16 000	24 000	17 000
Foundries	50 000	47 000	49 000	48 000	47 000	49 000	48 000	47 000	44 000
Iron and Steel Industry	43 000	48 000	64 000	21 000	21 000	27 000	28 000	24 000	21 000
Iron Ore Pelletizing	810	9 600	23 000	18 000	16 000	16 000	14 000	16 000	15 000
Mineral Products Industry	4 300	3 800	3 200	640	660	610	550	430	460
Mining and Rock Quarrying	31 000	14 000	11 000	15 000	17 000	28 000	21 000	21 000	22 000
Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry	280	370	13 000	13 000	17 000	15 000	15 000	16 000	5 800

Oil and Gas Industry (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	340 000	450 000	500 000	560 000	540 000	550 000	570 000	540 000	500 000
Downstream Oil and Gas Industry	29 000	23 000	21 000	22 000	16 000	21 000	29 000	14 000	13 000
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry	310 000	420 000	470 000	540 000	520 000	530 000	540 000	530 000	490 000

Electric Power Generation (Utilities) (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	50 000	43 000	52 000	40 000	38 000	42 000	36 000	30 000	26 000
Coal	41 000	18 000	25 000	16 000	16 000	19 000	15 000	11 000	8 800
Diesel	370	1 200	1 300	1 600	1 400	1 500	1 800	2 300	1 500
Natural Gas	4 400	17 000	17 000	15 000	12 000	14 000	12 000	10 000	9 900
Waste Materials	82	390	200	230	270	330	230	140	160
Other (Electric Power Generation)	4 400	7 200	8 500	7 200	7 900	7 700	6 300	6 000	6 000

Manufacturing (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	1 300 000	1 000 000	530 000	140 000	130 000	140 000	140 000	150 000	120 000
Abrasives Manufacturing	610	240	240	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bakeries	5.9	5.8	1.2	0.30	0.30	0.32	-	-	-
Biofuel Production	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	59	28
Chemicals Industry	27 000	30 000	18 000	15 000	15 000	16 000	14 000	16 000	13 000
Electronics	31	44	18	-	0.26	-	-	-	-
Food Preparation	1 200	1 400	1 600	1 200	1 200	1 300	1 300	1 200	900
Glass Manufacturing	490	570	690	300	280	300	300	290	280
Grain Industry	1 900	2 700	290	370	380	420	640	720	410
Metal Fabrication	8 700	8 700	7 700	1 200	1 100	1 200	1 300	1 100	1 000
Plastics Manufacturing	190	320	200	9.3	10	11	13	14	14
Pulp and Paper Industry	180 000	150 000	98 000	69 000	73 000	78 000	82 000	80 000	68 000
Textiles	45	78	53	0.069	0.071	0.069	0.097	0.22	0.16
Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting)	3 800	3 900	2 900	750	880	920	930	910	570
Wood Products	1 100 000	790 000	390 000	51 000	43 000	40 000	35 000	46 000	34 000
Other (Manufacturing)	32 000	61 000	11 000	560	610	550	540	520	430

Transportation and Mobile Equipment (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	8 100 000	7 300 000	5 100 000	3 100 000	3 000 000	3 100 000	3 100 000	3 200 000	2 900 000
Air Transportation (LTO)	30 000	23 000	21 000	27 000	28 000	27 000	27 000	30 000	22 000
Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military	5 700	6 700	7 400	5 400	5 600	5 800	6 200	7 600	7 800
Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles	34 000	63 000	92 000	63 000	61 000	65 000	68 000	68 000	63 000
Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles	590 000	1 100 000	830 000	380 000	400 000	410 000	420 000	420 000	380 000
Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles	130 000	310 000	67 000	640	860	1 500	1 500	1 400	1 900
Light-Duty Diesel Trucks	13 000	15 000	20 000	16 000	17 000	20 000	22 000	22 000	20 000
Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles	29 000	17 000	9 300	9 200	8 600	8 600	8 300	8 000	5 600
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks	1 600 000	1 600 000	1 100 000	690 000	730 000	750 000	780 000	800 000	720 000
Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles	2 900 000	1 700 000	950 000	510 000	520 000	500 000	490 000	480 000	390 000
Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks	140 000	54 000	24 000	240	260	310	310	300	180
Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles	14 000	6 000	2 300	7.3	8.9	12	12	11	8.3
Motorcycles	12 000	14 000	15 000	13 000	13 000	14 000	14 000	14 000	12 000
Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment	220 000	240 000	170 000	87 000	69 000	75 000	80 000	79 000	73 000
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment	2 400 000	2 100 000	1 800 000	1 300 000	1 100 000	1 200 000	1 200 000	1 200 000	1 200 000
Rail Transportation	16 000	15 000	15 000	17 000	16 000	18 000	18 000	18 000	17 000
Tire Wear and Brake Lining	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Agriculture (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	630	690	520	1 200	1 200	1 200	1 100	1 100	1 000
Animal Production	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Crop Production	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Agricultural Fuel Combustion	630	690	520	1 200	1 200	1 200	1 100	1 100	1 000

Commercial/Residential/Institutional (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	850 000	690 000	600 000	680 000	650 000	650 000	660 000	630 000	580 000
Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion	15 000	19 000	19 000	18 000	19 000	21 000	22 000	23 000	23 000
Commercial Cooking	5 700	6 400	7 100	6 300	6 300	6 400	6 400	6 400	6 500
Construction Fuel Combustion	670	360	460	440	450	460	480	510	500
Home Firewood Burning	810 000	650 000	560 000	640 000	610 000	610 000	620 000	590 000	540 000
Human	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marine Cargo Handling	0.16	0.050	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Residential Fuel Combustion	13 000	13 000	13 000	12 000	11 000	12 000	13 000	12 000	11 000
Service Stations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Other (Miscellaneous)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Incineration and Waste (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	15 000	16 000	16 000	14 000	14 000	14 000	15 000	14 000	14 000
Crematoriums	9.4	13	17	25	26	27	28	29	31
Waste Incineration	13 000	14 000	13 000	11 000	11 000	11 000	11 000	12 000	12 000
Waste Treatment and Disposal	2 500	2 000	3 000	2 600	2 400	2 400	3 500	2 300	2 200

Paints and Solvents (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	23	73	20	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dry Cleaning	0.95	0.81	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
General Solvent Use	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Printing	22	72	20	-	-	-	-	-	-
Surface Coatings	0.10	0.10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Dust (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Coal Transportation	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Construction Operations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mine Tailings	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Paved Roads	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Unpaved Roads	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Fires (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Sub-total	440 000	78 000	52 000	130 000	120 000	52 000	30 000	36 000	26 000
Prescribed Burning	440 000	76 000	51 000	130 000	120 000	51 000	29 000	35 000	25 000
Structural Fires	2 100	1 700	1 500	1 100	1 100	1 200	1 200	1 200	1 300

Totals (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Ore and Mineral Industry	390 000	390 000	500 000	510 000	560 000	590 000	530 000	510 000	510 000
Oil and Gas Industry	340 000	450 000	500 000	560 000	540 000	550 000	570 000	540 000	500 000
Electric Power Generation (Utilities)	50 000	43 000	52 000	40 000	38 000	42 000	36 000	30 000	26 000
Manufacturing	1 300 000	1 000 000	530 000	140 000	130 000	140 000	140 000	150 000	120 000
Transportation and Mobile Equipment	8 100 000	7 300 000	5 100 000	3 100 000	3 000 000	3 100 000	3 100 000	3 200 000	2 900 000
Agriculture	630	690	520	1 200	1 200	1 200	1 100	1 100	1 000
Commercial/Residential/Institutional	850 000	690 000	600 000	680 000	650 000	650 000	660 000	630 000	580 000
Incineration and Waste	15 000	16 000	16 000	14 000	14 000	14 000	15 000	14 000	14 000
Paints and Solvents	23	73	20	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dust	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fires	440 000	78 000	52 000	130 000	120 000	52 000	30 000	36 000	26 000
Grand Total	11 000 000	10 000 000	7 400 000	5 200 000	5 100 000	5 100 000	5 100 000	5 100 000	4 700 000

Note:
Refer to Annex 4.4 for more information on international marine navigation and air transportation reporting emissions.

Other emissions estimated in the APEI (tonnes)
Sector	1990	2000	2005	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Domestic Air Transportation (Cruise)	110 000	77 000	72 000	38 000	39 000	38 000	32 000	35 000	26 000
International Air Transportation (Cruise)	12 000	9 900	8 400	8 100	8 500	9 000	9 400	9 700	4 000
International Marine Navigation	6 900	10 000	12 000	11 000	11 000	10 000	10 000	11 000	10 000

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Date modified:: 2022-09-22

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