Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.6
2.6 Ammonia
In 2023, approximately 495 kt of ammonia (NH3) were released in Canada (Table 2–8). NH3 emissions originated primarily from Agriculture, which accounted for 94% (463 kt) of total emissions with 54% (270 kt) from Animal Production sources and 39% (193 kt) from Crop Production sources. All other sources combined accounted for only 6% of emissions.
From 1990 to 2023, an exception to the general downward trends of air pollutant emissions in Canada is NH3 emissions increase of 25% (99 kt) (Figure 2–6). NH3 emissions increased steadily from 1990 to 2004 and have since fluctuated, reaching their highest level in 2021 and with a 2023 level similar to 2004 levels. This trend is primarily driven by the increasing use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers in crop production and emissions from animal production. Animal Production, which accounts for most 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 stabilized. Emissions from Crop Production, however, have been steadily increasing.
The most significant changes in NH3 emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Agriculture: increase of 30% (106 kt), with:
- Crop Production: increase of 136% (111 kt)
- Animal Production: decrease of 1.9% (5.1 kt)
Figure 2–6: Trends in Canadian NH3 Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-6
Figure 2–6: Trends in Canadian Ammonia Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–6 is a stacked area graph displaying the three major contributors to national ammonia trends that are the following: Other, Crop Production, and Animal Production. The figure shows that Animal production was by far the biggest contributor to emissions in all years. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Production | 275 | 275 | 280 | 280 | 286 | 300 | 309 | 310 | 310 | 309 | 314 | 322 | 325 | 327 | 341 | 345 | 336 | 324 | 314 | 301 | 293 | 286 | 286 | 286 | 281 | 276 | 277 | 277 | 278 | 277 | 275 | 276 | 274 | 270 |
| Crop Production | 82 | 79 | 84 | 87 | 93 | 96 | 104 | 109 | 108 | 106 | 111 | 105 | 106 | 111 | 111 | 104 | 105 | 122 | 126 | 125 | 126 | 130 | 147 | 160 | 156 | 164 | 163 | 154 | 169 | 171 | 187 | 191 | 178 | 193 |
| Other | 38 | 38 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 54 | 51 | 51 | 47 | 52 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
Table 2–8: National Summary of Annual NH3 Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 1,800 | 2,200 | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,600 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 560 | 1,600 | 2,200 | 1,800 | 2,200 | 1,700 | 2,200 | 2,600 | 2,700 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 710 | 1,400 | 990 | 220 | 220 | 220 | 260 | 240 | 420 |
| Manufacturing | 20,000 | 25,000 | 17,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 11,000 |
| Chemicals Industry (Manufacturing) | 9,900 | 15,000 | 11,000 | 9,400 | 8,700 | 9,900 | 8,900 | 7,900 | 9,000 |
| Pulp and Paper Industry (Manufacturing) | 4,400 | 3,600 | 2,600 | 1,600 | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,200 |
| Wood Products (Manufacturing) | 4,800 | 4,800 | 2,600 | 700 | 630 | 570 | 890 | 920 | 880 |
| Other Manufacturing Sectors (Manufacturing) | 1,000 | 1,200 | 730 | 380 | 400 | 380 | 350 | 350 | 320 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 5,900 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 7,300 | 7,400 | 6,200 | 6,600 | 6,800 | 6,900 |
| Agriculture | 360,000 | 420,000 | 450,000 | 450,000 | 450,000 | 460,000 | 470,000 | 450,000 | 460,000 |
| Agricultural Fuel Combustion (Agriculture) | 44 | 41 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 |
| Animal Production (Agriculture) | 270,000 | 310,000 | 340,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 | 270,000 | 270,000 |
| Crop Production (Agriculture) | 82,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 180,000 | 190,000 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 2,600 | 2,400 | 2,200 | 2,200 | 2,100 | 1,900 | 1,800 | 1,900 | 1,800 |
| Incineration And Waste | 6,000 | 6,200 | 6,100 | 5,900 | 6,000 | 6,100 | 6,800 | 7,000 | 7,100 |
| Paints and Solvents | NA | 0.052 | 0.050 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | 1,100 | 130 | 100 | 60 | 93 | 63 | 53 | 110 | 29 |
| Grand Total | 400,000 | 480,000 | 490,000 | 480,000 | 480,000 | 490,000 | 500,000 | 480,000 | 490,000 |
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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