Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2022: chapter 2.6

2.6 Ammonia (NH₃)

In 2020, approximately 487 kt of ammonia (NH₃) were released in Canada (Table 2–8). NH₃ emissions originated primarily from Agriculture, which accounted for 94% (457 kt) of total emissions. All other sources combined accounted for only 6% of emissions.

From 1990 to 2020, an exception to the general downward trends of air pollutant emissions is Canada’s NH₃ emissions increase of 24% (93 kt) (Figure 2–6). NH3 emissions peaked in 2004 and have since fluctuated. This trend is driven by emissions from animal production and the increasing use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers in crop production. Animal Production, which accounts for the majority of emissions throughout the time series, experienced a steady increase in emissions from 1990 to 2005, followed by a sharp decrease from 2006 to 2011, and has since declined slowly. Emissions from Crop Production, however, have been steadily increasing since 2006, and now account for 38% of NH₃ emissions.

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. Emissions from Pulp and Paper declined from 1990 to 2020 due to facility closures and decreased production.

The most significant changes in NH₃ emissions from 1990 to 2020 include:

• Agriculture: increase of 28% (101 kt), with:
  • Crop Production: increase of 126% (103 kt)
  • Animal Production: decrease of 0.9% (2.6 kt)
• Manufacturing: decrease of 40% (8.0 kt):
  • Wood Products: decrease of 88% (4.2 kt)
  • Pulp and Paper: decrease of 70% (3.1 kt)

Figure 2–6: Trends in Canadian NH₃ emissions (1990 to 2020)

Table 2–8: National summary of annual NH₃

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

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