Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.5
2.5 Carbon Monoxide
In 2023, approximately 4.5 Mt of carbon monoxide (CO) were released in Canada (Table 2–7). Transportation and Mobile Equipment accounted for 60% (2.7 Mt) of total emissions, with the Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment sector contributing 37% (1.7 Mt) and the Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles sectors contributing 18% (798 kt) of total CO emissions. The next-largest contributors are Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources, which in 2023 accounted for 13% (565 kt) of emissions, almost all owing to contributions from Home Firewood Burning at 12% (527 kt) of total CO emissions. The Upstream Oil and Gas Industry and Aluminium Industry sectors were the largest-emitting industrial contributors, accounting for 11% (506 kt) and 8.5% (386 kt) of CO emissions, respectively.
Between 1990 and 2023, CO emissions decreased by 65% (8.6 Mt) (Figure 2–5). Of the many contributors to the overall decrease in emissions, two in particular, Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles as well as 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 implemented regulations that have effectively lowered CO emission rates from spark-ignition engines.Footnote 9
Emissions from Wood Products manufacturing declined from 1993 to 2016 due to the removal of incinerators at sawmill and panel board mill facilities that incinerated hog fuel and have remained relatively stable since 2016. Furthermore, emissions from Prescribed Burning, within the Fires category, have decreased considerably over the time series reaching their lowest level in 2023, 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 more recently, experienced a decrease between 2019 and 2020 and remained stable between 2020 and 2023. The increase between 1990 and 2023 is attributed to expansion and growth in the oil and gas industry. The 18 kt (3.4%) decrease between the years 2019 and 2023 can be attributed to a 5.1% reduction in reported fuel gas consumption over this period.
The most significant changes in CO emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Transportation and Mobile Equipment: decrease of 72% (6.9 Mt), with:
- Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles: decrease of 86% (4.8 Mt)
- Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment: decrease of 50% (1.6 Mt)
- Manufacturing: decrease of 91% (1.2 Mt)
- Wood Products: decrease of 96% (1.0 Mt)
- Fires: decrease of 97% (431 kt), with:
- Prescribed Burning: decrease of 98% (430 kt)
- Oil and Gas Industry: increase of 61% (205 kt), with:
- Upstream Oil and Gas Industry: increase of 66% (201 kt)
Figure 2–5: Trends in Canadian CO Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-5
Figure 2–5: Trends in Canadian Carbon Monoxide Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–5 is a stacked area graph displaying the seven major contributors to national carbon monoxide trends that are the following: Prescribed Burning, Wood Products, Upstream Oil and Gas Industry, Home Firewood Burning, Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles, Other, and Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment, The figure shows an important decrease in emissions between 1990 and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment | 3,299 | 3,142 | 3,077 | 2,958 | 2,972 | 3,528 | 3,589 | 3,778 | 3,973 | 4,155 | 4,125 | 4,241 | 4,400 | 4,083 | 3,901 | 3,702 | 3,456 | 2,794 | 2,524 | 2,432 | 2,749 | 2,700 | 2,506 | 2,385 | 2,056 | 1,912 | 1,965 | 1,906 | 1,852 | 1,820 | 1,638 | 1,690 | 1,636 | 1,659 |
| Other | 1,502 | 1,500 | 1,527 | 1,529 | 1,553 | 1,572 | 1,565 | 1,536 | 1,500 | 1,494 | 1,514 | 1,450 | 1,507 | 1,520 | 1,464 | 1,410 | 1,339 | 1,333 | 1,316 | 1,239 | 1,273 | 1,238 | 1,166 | 1,185 | 1,111 | 1,101 | 1,115 | 1,159 | 1,094 | 1,039 | 978 | 1,000 | 959 | 970 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles | 5,547 | 5,310 | 5,379 | 5,436 | 5,500 | 5,151 | 4,959 | 4,654 | 4,377 | 4,012 | 3,888 | 3,608 | 3,317 | 3,033 | 2,737 | 2,304 | 2,069 | 1,865 | 1,704 | 1,598 | 1,478 | 1,102 | 1,025 | 1,021 | 1,005 | 970 | 976 | 935 | 930 | 911 | 782 | 807 | 784 | 798 |
| Home Firewood Burning | 916 | 928 | 983 | 992 | 971 | 952 | 977 | 972 | 781 | 759 | 772 | 667 | 647 | 612 | 654 | 676 | 665 | 784 | 785 | 796 | 707 | 754 | 717 | 795 | 812 | 800 | 764 | 774 | 754 | 686 | 592 | 537 | 569 | 527 |
| Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 305 | 296 | 312 | 336 | 373 | 382 | 395 | 442 | 461 | 475 | 419 | 436 | 466 | 506 | 463 | 472 | 469 | 501 | 516 | 502 | 494 | 508 | 512 | 519 | 528 | 530 | 517 | 526 | 534 | 523 | 496 | 500 | 500 | 506 |
| 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 | 37 | 44 | 49 | 48 |
| 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 | 25 | 56 | 11 |
Table 2–7: National Summary of Annual CO Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore And Mineral Industries | 390,000 | 400,000 | 510,000 | 530,000 | 510,000 | 510,000 | 510,000 | 500,000 | 520,000 |
| Aluminium Industry (Ore And Mineral Industries) | 240,000 | 250,000 | 310,000 | 380,000 | 360,000 | 390,000 | 380,000 | 370,000 | 390,000 |
| Other Ore and Mineral Industries Sectors (Ore And Mineral Industries) | 150,000 | 150,000 | 200,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 330,000 | 440,000 | 490,000 | 560,000 | 540,000 | 510,000 | 540,000 | 520,000 | 540,000 |
| Downstream Oil and Gas Industry (Oil and Gas Industry) | 29,000 | 23,000 | 21,000 | 30,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 36,000 | 22,000 | 33,000 |
| Upstream Oil and Gas Industry (Oil and Gas Industry) | 300,000 | 420,000 | 470,000 | 530,000 | 520,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 510,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 50,000 | 43,000 | 52,000 | 36,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 38,000 | 41,000 | 39,000 |
| Manufacturing | 1,300,000 | 1,000,000 | 530,000 | 140,000 | 150,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 120,000 |
| Pulp and Paper Industry (Manufacturing) | 180,000 | 150,000 | 98,000 | 82,000 | 80,000 | 69,000 | 63,000 | 60,000 | 58,000 |
| Wood Products (Manufacturing) | 1,100,000 | 790,000 | 390,000 | 35,000 | 46,000 | 37,000 | 44,000 | 49,000 | 48,000 |
| Other Manufacturing Sectors (Manufacturing) | 75,000 | 110,000 | 42,000 | 19,000 | 21,000 | 17,000 | 19,000 | 22,000 | 18,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 9,600,000 | 8,800,000 | 6,600,000 | 3,100,000 | 3,100,000 | 2,700,000 | 2,800,000 | 2,700,000 | 2,700,000 |
| Air Transportation (LTO) (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 30,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 26,000 | 29,000 | 22,000 | 24,000 | 25,000 | 26,000 |
| Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 5,900 | 6,900 | 7,700 | 3,100 | 3,200 | 2,800 | 2,800 | 3,100 | 3,200 |
| Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 44,000 | 81,000 | 110,000 | 62,000 | 58,000 | 52,000 | 55,000 | 55,000 | 53,000 |
| Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 290,000 | 320,000 | 260,000 | 100,000 | 99,000 | 87,000 | 81,000 | 65,000 | 67,000 |
| Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 61,000 | 2,600 | 990 | 1,500 | 1,900 | 2,000 | 2,300 | 2,700 | 2,500 |
| Light-Duty Diesel Trucks (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 57,000 | 49,000 | 36,000 | 7,300 | 6,800 | 5,900 | 6,800 | 7,900 | 7,500 |
| Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 23,000 | 14,000 | 10,000 | 4,400 | 4,200 | 3,400 | 3,900 | 4,400 | 4,000 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 2,200,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,200,000 | 530,000 | 530,000 | 470,000 | 470,000 | 460,000 | 480,000 |
| Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 3,300,000 | 2,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 400,000 | 380,000 | 320,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 | 320,000 |
| Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 5,800 | 390 | 190 | 71 | 41 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 21 |
| Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 17 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.93 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Motorcycles (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 30,000 | 38,000 | 33,000 | 31,000 | 32,000 | 26,000 | 28,000 | 24,000 | 25,000 |
| Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 180,000 | 190,000 | 150,000 | 92,000 | 83,000 | 69,000 | 65,000 | 59,000 | 54,000 |
| Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 3,300,000 | 4,100,000 | 3,700,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,800,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,700,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Rail Transportation (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | 15,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Tire Wear and Brake Lining (Transportation and Mobile Equipment) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Agriculture | 630 | 690 | 520 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 950,000 | 810,000 | 720,000 | 800,000 | 730,000 | 630,000 | 570,000 | 610,000 | 560,000 |
| Home Firewood Burning (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 920,000 | 770,000 | 680,000 | 750,000 | 690,000 | 590,000 | 540,000 | 570,000 | 530,000 |
| Other Commercial/Residential/Institutional Sectors (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 33,000 | 39,000 | 39,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 | 40,000 | 38,000 | 40,000 | 38,000 |
| Incineration And Waste | 8,500 | 10,000 | 9,900 | 8,900 | 8,200 | 8,800 | 8,600 | 9,200 | 8,500 |
| Paints and Solvents | NA | NA | 6.4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 130 | 130 |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | 440,000 | 78,000 | 52,000 | 30,000 | 36,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 57,000 | 12,000 |
| Prescribed Burning (Fires`) | 440,000 | 76,000 | 51,000 | 29,000 | 35,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 56,000 | 11,000 |
| Structural Fires (Fires`) | 2,100 | 1,700 | 1,500 | 1,200 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Grand Total | 13,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 5,200,000 | 5,100,000 | 4,500,000 | 4,600,000 | 4,600,000 | 4,500,000 |
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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