Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.4
2.4 Volatile Organic Compounds
In 2023, approximately 1.4 Mt of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released in Canada (Table 2–6). The Oil and Gas Industry was the largest contributor at 40% (541 kt) of total emissions with the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry sector emitting 38% (517 kt) of the national total. Paints and Solvents were the next-largest contributor, accounting for 20% (271 kt) of emissions, with General Solvent Use accounting for 13% (182 kt) of the national total. Transportation and Mobile Equipment sources accounted for 14% (194 kt) of emissions, with the Off-Road Gasoline / Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) / Natural Gas (NG) Vehicles and Equipment sector contributing 8.5% (117 kt) of the national total. Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources represented 8.5% (116 kt) of VOC emissions, attributed mainly to Home Firewood Burning (4.6% or 63 kt). The other significant contributing VOC sources were Agriculture and Manufacturing, with 8.3% (114 kt) and 8.0% (110 kt) of total VOC emissions, respectively.
Between 1990 and 2023, VOC emissions decreased by 38% (832 kt) (Figure 2–4). The most significant drivers of this trend are decreases in emissions from the Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles and Trucks and Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment sector. These decreases are due to increasingly stringent regulations on these spark-ignition engines that have effectively lowered hydrocarbon emissions and VOC emission rates.Footnote 7
Another driver of the downward VOC emissions trend between 1990 and 2023 is the Manufacturing category. The largest contributor to this decrease was from Wood Products, although almost all sectors observed a declining VOC emissions trend from 1990 to 2023. The decrease in emissions from Wood Products can be attributed in part to facilities closing and decreased production of lumber and panel boards, as well as the removal of incinerators at sawmill and panel board mill facilities that incinerated hog fuel.
The Oil and Gas Industry also experienced a decrease in emissions between 1990 and 2023. VOC emissions from the Downstream Oil and Gas Industry decreased by 81% (104 kt) over the time series as emission controls improved and five petroleum refineries closed or were converted to terminal facilities. Conversely, the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry (representing 96% of the Oil and Gas Industry VOC emissions) experienced increased emissions due to growth in the sector, which were most pronounced from 2011 to 2014. The Upstream Oil and Gas Industry experienced a significant decrease of 12% (73 kt) between 2019 and 2023, primarily due to the 14% (85 kt) difference between 2019 and 2020. This VOC decrease results from reductions in venting, storage losses, and equipment leaks at oil and natural gas production and processing facilities. The majority of this decrease is due to a combination of factors that coincided in 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic impact of the pandemic resulted in a drastic drop in the price of oil and contraction of the industry as marginal wells were shut in. As a result, there was a 5% reduction in total crude oil production and a 2% reduction in natural gas production in 2020. Additionally, federal and provincial regulations to reduce fugitive CH4 and VOC emissions from oil and gas operations came into effect in 2020 (ECCC, 2018b; AB, 2018; BC, 2021; SK, 2020), and definitions for vent gas volumes were changed in updated reporting requirements in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.Footnote 8
In 2023, emissions of VOCs were 39% (888 kt) below 2005 levels. The main drivers of this downward trend are similar to those between 1990 and 2023. Of note is a significant decrease in Paints and Solvents, with decreases in General Solvent Use between 2005 and 2023. The decrease in General Solvent Use can be associated with declining emissions from solvents in manufacturing as well as from private households.
The most significant changes in VOC emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Transportation and Mobile Equipment: decrease of 69% (440 kt), with:
- Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles and Trucks: decrease of 85% (251 kt)
- Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment: decrease of 53% (130 kt)
- Manufacturing: decrease of 57% (147 kt), with:
- Wood Products: decrease of 65% (70 kt)
- Oil and Gas Industry: decrease of 11% (66 kt), with:
- Downstream Oil and Gas Industry: decrease of 81% (104 kt)
- Upstream Oil and Gas Industry: increase of 7.9% (38 kt)
The most significant changes in VOC emissions from 2005 to 2023 include:
- Transportation and Mobile Equipment: decrease of 71% (471 kt), with:
- Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment: decrease of 72% (300 kt)
- Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles and Trucks: decrease of 72% (115 kt)
- Paints and Solvents: decrease of 38% (167 kt), with:
- General Solvent Use: decrease of 35% (98 kt)
- Oil and Gas Industry: decrease of 17% (112 kt), with:
- Upstream Oil and Gas Industry: decrease of 12% (70 kt)
- Downstream Oil and Gas Industry: decrease of 64% (42 kt)
Figure 2–4: Trends in Canadian Volatile Organic Compound Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-4
Figure 2–4: Trends in Canadian Volatile Organic Compound Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–4 is a stacked area graph displaying the major contributors to national volatile organic compound trends. They are the following: Downstream Oil and Gas Industry, Wood Products, Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles, Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment, General Solvent Use, Other, and Upstream Oil and Gas Industry. The figure shows that Other and Upstream Oil and Gas Industry have the biggest shares in the total national volatile organic compound emissions in 2023. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2023.
| 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 479 | 482 | 501 | 532 | 552 | 575 | 607 | 597 | 612 | 565 | 582 | 596 | 611 | 604 | 589 | 586 | 602 | 599 | 605 | 557 | 541 | 531 | 584 | 633 | 670 | 642 | 575 | 591 | 611 | 590 | 505 | 502 | 510 | 517 |
| Other | 814 | 796 | 777 | 807 | 807 | 787 | 774 | 760 | 742 | 736 | 718 | 663 | 662 | 664 | 647 | 684 | 592 | 592 | 571 | 537 | 528 | 526 | 511 | 509 | 505 | 485 | 467 | 468 | 482 | 463 | 426 | 436 | 428 | 423 |
| General Solvent Use | 189 | 189 | 196 | 200 | 210 | 225 | 231 | 234 | 236 | 245 | 258 | 245 | 238 | 244 | 242 | 280 | 273 | 272 | 268 | 247 | 255 | 248 | 253 | 258 | 265 | 238 | 226 | 222 | 221 | 215 | 184 | 182 | 182 | 182 |
| Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment | 247 | 251 | 261 | 268 | 283 | 343 | 369 | 398 | 427 | 451 | 449 | 458 | 463 | 449 | 439 | 417 | 389 | 349 | 314 | 294 | 297 | 278 | 254 | 235 | 202 | 186 | 182 | 169 | 157 | 149 | 131 | 127 | 118 | 117 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles | 295 | 287 | 295 | 312 | 330 | 321 | 323 | 315 | 309 | 293 | 272 | 255 | 236 | 207 | 187 | 159 | 142 | 131 | 117 | 107 | 97 | 70 | 65 | 63 | 59 | 56 | 54 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| Wood Products | 106 | 105 | 107 | 110 | 111 | 111 | 108 | 103 | 98 | 96 | 98 | 90 | 92 | 80 | 74 | 64 | 69 | 56 | 46 | 34 | 35 | 30 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 37 | 38 | 37 |
| Downstream Oil and Gas Industry | 128 | 120 | 115 | 112 | 110 | 98 | 94 | 91 | 89 | 89 | 85 | 76 | 72 | 73 | 67 | 66 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Table 2–6: National Summary of Annual Volatile Organic Compound Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 21,000 | 21,000 | 17,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 7,100 | 8,100 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 610,000 | 670,000 | 650,000 | 640,000 | 610,000 | 530,000 | 530,000 | 530,000 | 540,000 |
| Downstream Oil and Gas Industry (Oil and Gas Industry) | 130,000 | 85,000 | 66,000 | 26,000 | 24,000 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 |
| Upstream Oil and Gas Industry (Oil and Gas Industry) | 480,000 | 580,000 | 590,000 | 610,000 | 590,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 510,000 | 520,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 2,500 | 3,600 | 3,300 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,700 |
| Manufacturing | 260,000 | 250,000 | 190,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 98,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| Chemicals Industry (Manufacturing) | 47,000 | 36,000 | 26,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 9,600 | 9,100 |
| Food Preparation (Manufacturing) | 10,000 | 13,000 | 15,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 |
| Plastics Manufacturing (Manufacturing) | 13,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 9,500 | 11,000 | 9,800 | 13,000 |
| Pulp and Paper Industry (Manufacturing) | 27,000 | 24,000 | 23,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 |
| Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) (Manufacturing) | 24,000 | 24,000 | 18,000 | 8,900 | 8,300 | 6,600 | 5,700 | 6,400 | 7,300 |
| Wood Products (Manufacturing) | 110,000 | 98,000 | 64,000 | 29,000 | 27,000 | 25,000 | 37,000 | 38,000 | 37,000 |
| Other Manufacturing Sectors (Manufacturing) | 29,000 | 45,000 | 26,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 16,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 630,000 | 820,000 | 660,000 | 250,000 | 240,000 | 210,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 190,000 |
| Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 11,000 | 20,000 | 26,000 | 10,000 | 9,100 | 8,000 | 8,100 | 7,700 | 7,400 |
| Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 17,000 | 17,000 | 12,000 | 4,200 | 3,800 | 3,300 | 3,100 | 2,800 | 2,800 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 96,000 | 120,000 | 74,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 | 25,000 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 200,000 | 150,000 | 85,000 | 23,000 | 22,000 | 18,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 |
| Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 40,000 | 41,000 | 32,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 |
| Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 250,000 | 450,000 | 420,000 | 160,000 | 150,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 |
| Other Transporation and Mobile Equipment Sectors (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 24,000 | 21,000 | 19,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Agriculture | 100,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| Agricultural Fuel Combustion (Agriculture) | 81 | 91 | 82 | 160 | 160 | 150 | 150 | 160 | 160 |
| Animal Production (Agriculture) | 100,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| Crop Production (Agriculture) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 180,000 | 170,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 140,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 |
| Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,400 |
| Commercial Cooking (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 2,000 | 2,300 | 2,500 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,400 | 2,400 |
| Home Firewood Burning (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 110,000 | 92,000 | 82,000 | 91,000 | 82,000 | 71,000 | 64,000 | 68,000 | 63,000 |
| Human (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Marine Cargo Handling (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 0.34 | 0.92 | 1.9 | NA | NA | NA | 15 | 14 | 30 |
| Residential Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 1,500 | 1,700 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 1,400 |
| Service Stations (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 70,000 | 71,000 | 65,000 | 51,000 | 50,000 | 44,000 | 46,000 | 47,000 | 48,000 |
| Other (Miscellaneous) (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Incineration and Waste | 9,500 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Paints and Solvents | 340,000 | 380,000 | 440,000 | 310,000 | 310,000 | 260,000 | 270,000 | 270,000 | 270,000 |
| Dry Cleaning (Paints and Solvents) | 700 | 700 | 220 | 200 | 190 | 180 | 170 | 170 | 170 |
| General Solvent Use (Paints and Solvents) | 190,000 | 260,000 | 280,000 | 220,000 | 210,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 |
| Printing (Paints and Solvents) | 23,000 | 33,000 | 55,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 | 17,000 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 |
| Surface Coatings (Paints and Solvents) | 130,000 | 89,000 | 100,000 | 68,000 | 66,000 | 60,000 | 68,000 | 66,000 | 66,000 |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | 41,000 | 4,200 | 3,400 | 1,800 | 3,200 | 2,000 | 1,600 | 3,600 | 800 |
| Grand Total | 2,200,000 | 2,400,000 | 2,300,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
NA Indicates no emissions.
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