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Archived: Reporting greenhouse gas emissions data, technical guidance 2017: chapter 1

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We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

You can use it for research or reference.

1. Reporting process overview

The legal basis for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) is the Notice with respect to reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for [a specified year], which is published annually in the Canada Gazette, Part I under the authority of subsection 46(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

The current GHG reporting requirements stipulate that all persons who operate a facility that emits 10 000 tonnes (or 10 kt) or more of GHGs (expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) units) in the calendar year (the reporting threshold), or a facility that is engaged in carbon capture, transport and storage (CCTS) activities, are subject to the reporting requirements and must report their emissions and other identified information to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Facilities need to calculate their total emissions (in CO2 eq units) of the GHGs covered by this reporting requirement and are to submit reports if they meet or exceed the reporting threshold and requirements (see Figure 1 for an overview of the reporting process). If the facility’s emissions fall below the reporting threshold, when applicable, the facility is not required to submit a report but is encouraged to submit a voluntary report nonetheless.

The information that must be submitted includes general information about the reporting company and facility (examples, name, address/location, contacts, parent companies, various identifiers) and the GHG emissions information for the facility in question. Each facility is required to report total GHG emissions as per the reporting format described in Section 4 of this document. Facilities subject to expanded reporting must provide the information described in the identified schedules of the 2017 GHGRP notice (see Figure 2 for an overview of the reporting process).

A company with a facility or facilities subject to the reporting requirements must include with the GHG emissions report a statement of certification, signed by an authorized signing officer, indicating that the information submitted is true, accurate and complete. This statement should be submitted electronically with the GHG report through the online reporting system.

If the facility is owned by a non Canadian parent company, and exceeds the reporting threshold, then the operator is required to submit a report for the facility. The operator would not, however, be required to provide parent company information if there is no Canadian parent company.

All information (i.e., the GHG report, statement of certification and confidentiality request, if applicable) must be submitted by the June 1st reporting deadline.

If a facility reported emissions in a previous year but does not meet the current year’s reporting threshold, it is required to notify Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Pollutant Inventories and Reporting Division. Facilities can submit a Does Not Meet Criteria notification online through the Single Window System.

The reporting company may also submit, with the GHG report, a written request that the reported information be treated as confidential. If applicable, the reporting company must complete the confidentiality request process, which includes preparing the written request and submitting it online with the report to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Please note that a request for confidentiality must be submitted each year, since it applies only to the reporting year in which the request was made.

Figure 1: reporting process overview

Figure 1 : reporting process overview
Long description for Figure 1

Figure 1 is a flow chart of the reporting process overview. Step 1:  Calculate each facility’s emissions for the calendar year. Step 2: Do the emissions meet or exceed 10 kilotonnes or are you a facility engaged in carbon capture, transport and storage (CCTS)? If the answer is No, then the facility is not required to report, but is encouraged to submit a voluntary report nonetheless. In these circumstances, if the facility has not submitted a report the previous year, there is no further action required, but if the facility has submitted a report the previous year, it must submit a “Does not meet Criteria” notification for the current year. If the emissions meet or exceed 10 kilotonnes or the facility is engaged in CCTS activities (Step 2), then the facility is required to report. Step 3: The facility gains access to the reporting system to complete the secure registration step. Step 4: The facility must then complete the information about the company and facility as per schedule 4 of the 2017 notice that describes the reporting requirements. If the facility is involved in CCTS activities or lime, cement, aluminium or iron and steel manufacturing, then the facility is required to report under the expanded requirements (detailed in figure 2). Any other facility is required to report under the basic requirements (schedule 5). Step 5: The facility must complete the emissions and other required data. If you do not wish to submit a confidentiality request, then step 6 is to submit the report and the statement of certification online, which completes the reporting process. If you do wish to submit a confidentiality request, then step 6 is to prepare and attach your written request for confidentiality. Step 7 is to submit the report, the confidentiality request and the statement of certification online. The deadline for submission of all required information is June 1st.

Figure 2: expanded reporting process overview

Figure 1 : reporting process overview
Long description for Figure 2

Figure 2 is a flow chart of the expanded reporting process overview and thus applies to facilities subject to the expanded requirements.  First step is to identify facilities involved in carbon capture, transport and storage (CCTS) activities.  These facilities are then required to follow the expanded requirements to report data for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 as per schedule 6 of the 2017 notice that describes the reporting requirements. Facilities that are engaged in lime, cement, aluminium or iron and steel manufacturing are to follow the expanded requirements for the identified greenhouse gases. For carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) or nitrous oxide (N2O), these facilities are required to report on the sources of emissions identified as follows:

  • Stationary fuel combustion, on-site transportation and flaring -  follow the expanded reporting requirements as per schedule 7;
  • Industrial processes -  follow the expanded reporting requirements as per:
    • Schedule 8 for lime manufacturing;
    • Schedule 9 for cement manufacturing;
    • Schedule 10 for aluminium manufacturing;
    • Schedule 11 for iron and steel manufacturing;
  • Venting, leakage, waste and wastewater - follow the basic reporting requirements.

For hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) where the sources of emissions covered are industrial processes and industrial product use, these facilities are required to follow the basic reporting requirements (except where expanded requirements exist, as detailed in each sector’s schedule).

1.1 Options for reporting

The online Single Window System is used to submit reports to the GHGRP (see the GHGRP websiteFootnote 6 ). Some options are available to facilities when preparing the GHG report to be submitted:

As a provisional approach, for the 2017 calendar year, ECCC is also providing options for facilities in order to meet the expanded reporting requirements under the GHGRP, as follows:

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2020-11-12