Facility greenhouse gas reporting: overview of 2024 reported emissions

Summary

This report presents the most recent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data reported by Canadian facilities under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), along with key trends over time. The results reflect facility-reported data for the 2024 calendar year and are supported by summary tables and figures, with additional details available through accompanying data files published on the Government of Canada’s Open Data website.

Highlights

Total reported emissions:
In 2024, 1879 facilities reported 292 megatonnes (Mt)^{Footnote 1} of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂ eq.), a slight increase of 1 Mt (0.3%) compared to 2023 when 1878 facilities reported 291 Mt. Facility-reported emissions have remained stable over the past four years, following a post-pandemic rebound of 12.5 Mt (4.5%) between 2020 and 2021.

Main emitting sectors:
Most facility-level emissions were reported from three sectors: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (43%), Manufacturing (29%), and Utilities (20%). Sixty-three large facilities (emitting at least 1 Mt CO₂ eq.) accounted for 54% of total reported emissions.

Trends since 2017:
Since 2017, year-to-year changes in total reported emissions have been driven mainly by large facilities, particularly in the oil and gas extraction and electric power generation sectors. Emissions from oil and gas extraction increased by 14% over this period, while emissions from electric power generation decreased by 28%, with most other sectors showing comparatively limited variation.

Share of national emissions:
Facility-reported emissions represented 64% of Canada’s industrial emissions and 43% of total national emissions (685 Mt) in 2024, based on Canada’s Official GHG Inventory.^{Footnote 2}

Reporting coverage:
The number of reporting facilities varies from year to year due to program changes over time (e.g. lower reporting thresholds, updated quantification requirements), facility start-ups and closures, and improved compliance. The 2017 threshold change increased reporting from 616 to 1710 facilities, with participation continuing to grow to 1879 facilities in 2024. These factors influence coverage over time and are considered when analyzing trends.

Biomass CO₂ reporting:
Reported CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion totaled 33 Mt in 2024. These emissions are published for the first time and are presented separately from facility total emissions, expanding the scope of publicly available data and providing a more complete view of Canada’s emissions profile.

1 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

The Government of Canada established the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) in March 2004 under the authority of section 46 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to annually collect GHG emissions information from Canadian facilities. A notice is published periodically (e.g. every two years) in the Canada Gazette that describes the reporting requirements under the program, and any facility subject to the reporting criteria is required to report.

For the purposes of the GHGRP, a facility^{Footnote 3} is defined as an integrated facility, pipeline transportation system, or offshore installation. An integrated facility is defined as all buildings, equipment, structures, on-site transportation machinery, and stationary items that are located on a single site, on multiple sites or between multiple sites that are owned or operated by the same person or persons and that function as a single integrated site, excluding public roads.

Facilities reporting to the GHGRP use emission calculation methods that must be consistent with the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC^{Footnote 4}) guidelines—including emission factors, mass balance, direct measurement, and engineering estimates—with some sectors (i.e. those subject to the expanded requirements) adhering to prescribed methods as specified in Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Quantification Requirements document. GHG emissions are expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents units using global warming potential values consistent with Canada’s Official GHG Inventory and the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report.

This program is part of ongoing efforts to develop and maintain, in collaboration with several Canadian provincial government jurisdictions, a harmonized and efficient GHG reporting system that minimizes, where possible, duplication and reporting burden for industry and governments. Key objectives of the program are to provide Canadians with consistent information on GHG emissions from large, individual emitters, inform the development of the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and support regulatory initiatives. Data collected are also shared with provinces and territories.

To date, facility-reported GHG information has been collected and published through the GHGRP for the period of 2004 to 2024. ECCC has completed the collection and review of GHG emissions for the 2024 calendar year; facilities with annual emissions of 10 kt CO₂ eq. or higher were required to report, with submissions due by June 2, 2025.

The Notice with respect to reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for 2024 and 2025, published in the Canada Gazette on December 9, 2023, outlines federal reporting requirements for 2024 and 2025 data, continuing expanded requirements (introduced in 2017) for facilities in 13 sectors and incorporating updates consulted on in summer 2023. This Notice was subsequently amended in December 2025 to extend reporting requirements to the 2026 calendar year. Data used in this overview report are current as of October 2, 2025; any subsequent updates will be reflected in future releases.

2 Reported 2024 greenhouse gas emissions

Reporting facilities are unevenly distributed across Canada, with a higher concentration in provinces with significant industrial activity—particularly Alberta and the Windsor–Quebec City corridor—and fewer large emitters in other regions (Figure 1).

In 2024, 1879 facilities reported GHG emissions totaling 292 Mt^{Footnote 5} (Figure 2). Of these:

• there were 63 facilities with emissions above 1000 kt (or 1 Mt), accounting for 54% (157 Mt), mainly from oil sands extraction (46%), electric power generation (23%), petroleum refineries (8%), and primary metal manufacturing (8%) (Figure 3)
• emitting between 100 and 1000 kt were 297 facilities, contributing 32% (93 Mt) to the total reported emissions
• the majority of facilities (1519) reported less than 100 kt, totaling 41 Mt (14%), spanning sectors like oil and gas extraction, waste treatment, and food manufacturing
• voluntary reporters, with emissions below 10 kt, amounted to 165 facilities, totaling 0.7 Mt (0.2%); these are included in this report and published datasets

Notes:
a. “Other” includes various types of facilities such as natural gas transportation pipelines and cement manufacturers.

2.1 Reported GHG emissions by gas

Reported emissions in 2024 are broken down by gas as follows (Figure 4):

• CO₂ accounted for the majority of reported emissions in 2024 (93%, 271 Mt^{Footnote 6})
• Methane (CH₄) contributed 6% (17 Mt CO₂ eq.) and N₂O 0.8% (2.3 Mt CO₂ eq.) to the total emissions
• HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆ from industrial processes or product use made up the remaining 0.3% (0.95 Mt CO₂ eq.)

2.2 Reported GHG emissions by source

Reported emissions vary across different source categories (Figure 5), reflecting the types of activities at each facility and the gases predominantly released from each source. Source categories include stationary fuel combustion, industrial processes, fugitive sources (venting, flaring, leakage), on-site transportation, waste and wastewater. In addition, facilities report information on carbon capture, transport, use, and storage (CCTUS) activities, where applicable. The key reported sources and activities are summarized below:

• Stationary fuel combustion is the largest source (74%, 216 Mt), where mainly CO₂ is emitted; includes fuels burned for energy production, excluding on-site transportation. CO₂ from combustion of biomass materials is reported but not included in facility totals
• Industrial processes are the second-largest source (13%, 37 Mt), from chemical/physical reactions in specific processes such as in mineral, metal, and chemical production
• Waste (landfills, wastewater) and fugitive emissions from fossil fuel production are the largest sources of reported CH₄ emissions
• Carbon capture, transport, use, and storage (CCTUS): in 2024, 13 facilities reported CCTUS activities; a total of 3450 kt was captured domestically and 870 kt was imported with 1050 kt of CO₂ injected for long-term geological storage and about 3270 kt used for enhanced fossil fuel recovery

Note: Totals may not sum to the expected value due to rounding.

2.3 Reported CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion

Facilities are required to report greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of biomass materials, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Reported biomass CO₂ emissions are associated with the combustion of a range of biomass-derived materials used for energy or process purposes across multiple sectors, including wood-based materials (such as wood waste, residues, and other wood-derived by-products) and liquid or gaseous biofuels (such as biodiesel, ethanol, and other biomass-derived gases).

Consistent with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reporting guidelines for national inventories, CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion are reported separately and are not included in total facility GHG emissions. This is because CO₂ from biomass is considered part of the natural, short-term carbon cycle. As biomass (such as wood or crops) grows, it absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere; when harvested sustainably, the CO₂ released during combustion is largely balanced by what was absorbed during growth, resulting in a near-zero net impact on atmospheric CO₂. Associated CH₄ and N₂O emissions, which are not part of this cycle, are included in facility totals.

In 2024, 304 facilities reported 33 Mt of CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion (Table 1). A small number of industrial sectors contribute the majority of reported biomass CO₂ emissions, notably manufacturing and utilities, together representing approximately 94% of total reported biomass emissions (Figure 6). These emissions primarily come from the use of biomass as a fuel or process input, providing insight into energy use and combustion activities.

Notes:

a. “Other” is a grouping of the following types of facilities: waste treatment and disposal sites, waste management services, universities, and public administration buildings.

Totals may not sum to the expected value due to rounding.

2.4 Reported GHG emissions by province/territory

Facilities in Alberta reported the largest share of emissions (~52%), followed by Ontario (17%), Saskatchewan (9%), and Quebec (7%) (Table 2). This regional distribution largely reflects the number of facilities, fuel use, and predominant industry—for example, Alberta’s emissions are driven by oil and gas extraction, while manufacturing dominates in Ontario and Quebec. More detailed regional sector data are provided in Section 3.2.

2.5 Reported GHG emissions by sector

In 2024, the majority of reported GHG emissions came from three NAICS-defined sectors (Table 3). Most sectors’ emissions are dominated by stationary fuel combustion, except for certain subsectors like iron/steel, basic chemicals, aluminium, and cement, where industrial processes are significant.

Notes:

a. “Other” is a grouping of the following types of facilities: natural gas transportation pipelines, solid waste landfills, airports, universities, hospitals, and public administration buildings.

b. CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion are calculated and reported separately from CO₂ emissions originating from non-biomass sources; this data is available in the published facility data set from 2022 onwards.

Totals may not sum to the expected value due to rounding.

* N/A not applicable

Main highlights (Figure 7):

• Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction (NAICS 21): Oil sands extraction accounts for 63% of sector emissions, oil and gas extraction (except oil sands) 28%, mining 9%
• Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33): Key contributors include petroleum/coal products (21%), iron/steel (18%), basic chemicals (15%), and cement/concrete (13%)
• Other: Natural gas pipelines (47%) and waste management facilities (40%) dominate this grouping, with waste facilities contributing 48% of total reported CH₄ emissions

Notes:

a. Other Manufacturing includes all remaining manufacturing activities (NAICS 31–33) not shown as separate sub-sectors in the figure.

b. “Food, Wood, and Paper Products” aggregates food manufacturing (NAICS 311), wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321), and paper manufacturing (NAICS 322).

c. “Other Chemicals” aggregates pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 32532), fertilizer manufacturing (NAICS 32531), and other agricultural and specialty chemical manufacturing (NAICS 3253, excluding basic chemicals).

d. “Cement and Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products” aggregates cement manufacturing (NAICS 32731), lime manufacturing (NAICS 32741), gypsum product manufacturing (NAICS 32742), and other non-metallic mineral product manufacturing (NAICS 327).

e. Non-Ferrous Metals (incl. Aluminium) aggregates alumina and aluminium production and processing (NAICS 3313) and other non-ferrous metal manufacturing, excluding aluminium (NAICS 3314).

3 Trends in reported GHG emissions

The number of facilities reporting to ECCC varies from year to year, reflecting changes in production levels, industrial processes, fuel use, facility start-ups and closures, and unplanned events. A major driver of increased participation was the reduction of the reporting threshold from 50 kt to 10 kt in 2017, which expanded the number of reporting facilities from 616 to 1710. Since then, participation has continued to grow, reaching 1879 reporting facilities in 2024. In addition to changes in facility coverage, updates to quantification requirements over time—such as revised calculation methods or emission factors—can also affect reported emissions and influence observed trends throughout the time series.

Sectoral coverage under the GHGRP varies by both facility size and emissions. The facility data collected by the program has full coverage of sectors dominated by large, high-emitting facilities—such as cement, iron and steel, aluminium, oil sands, and petroleum refining— as all facilities exceed the reporting threshold and are required to report. In contrast, sectors with many smaller or lower-emitting facilities (e.g. upstream oil and gas, commercial/institutional sector) may only have partial coverage, since facilities below the threshold are not captured. As a result, trend analysis is impacted by coverage, particularly where emission changes over time may reflect both actual emission trends and shifts in the number or composition of facilities reporting to the program.

3.1 National-level trends

National GHG emissions trends provide insight into the overall performance of Canadian facilities, highlighting changes in total emissions and the contributions of different facility sizes over time.

• Total emissions remained largely stable in 2024, with 1879 facilities reporting 292 Mt of GHGs, a minimal increase of 1 Mt (0.3%) compared to 2023 when 1878 facilities reported
• Facilities emitting 50 kt CO₂ eq. or more accounted for the bulk of emissions, with 594 facilities reporting 266 Mt
  • Although more facilities are now reporting due to lower thresholds, emissions from this group have declined by 4% since 2005, reflecting efficiency improvements and changes in operations
• Facilities emitting between 10 and 50 kt CO₂ eq. reported a total of 25 Mt, a level that has remained steady since the 10 kt reporting threshold was introduced in 2017, highlighting that these smaller facilities contribute a consistent share to national emissions
• Sector-level emissions trends show that the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction sector experienced the fastest growth due mainly to increased production, and also following the 2009 and 2017 reporting threshold changes, overtaking the Utilities sector around 2015
  • In 2024, 982 facilities (52% of all reporting facilities) reported emissions in this sector, reflecting the increased number of oil and gas operations now reporting to the program

3.2 Trends by industry sector and by province/territory

Examining emissions by sector and province/territory illustrates how industrial activity and regional presence shape Canada’s reported GHG emissions, and how reporting thresholds have influenced sector-level coverage (Figure 8). Facilities reporting less than 10 kt CO₂ eq. (165 facilities, 0.2% of total emissions) are included in the following analysis but contribute minimally to overall trends.

Utilities:
Emissions from this sector have steadily decreased between 2005 and 2024, reflecting efficiency improvements and changes in energy generation.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction:
This sector has shown a sustained increase in emissions since 2005, surpassing Utilities in 2015. Growth is partly due to new facilities reporting since the 2017 threshold change from 50 to 10 kt.

Provincial distribution:
Emissions reflect the regional presence of key industries, with provinces like Alberta dominating Mining and Oil & Gas, while Ontario and Quebec have higher proportions of emissions stemming from Manufacturing.

Threshold and reporting effects:
Changes to the reporting threshold in 2009 and 2017 significantly increased the number of reporting facilities, particularly in the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction sector. Facility-reported trends align closely with Canada’s National GHG Inventory.

Note:

a. “Other” is a grouping of the following types of facilities: natural gas transportation pipelines, solid waste landfills, airports, universities, hospitals, and public administration buildings.

3.2.1 Short-term changes

Recent short-term changes reflect recovery from pandemic-related disruptions and shifts in industrial activity, showing where emissions have increased, decreased, or remained stable across major sectors.

Overall trend:
After the pandemic-related disruptions, emissions increased in 2021 and 2022 as industrial activity recovered, then stabilized by 2024. Since 2017, total reported emissions have decreased slightly by 1.5% (4 Mt).

Utilities sector:
Emissions declined 28% (22 Mt) between 2017 and 2024, primarily due to fuel switching from coal to natural gas and increased renewable energy in Alberta. Most reductions occurred in Alberta (23 Mt), with smaller decreases in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, while Ontario saw a 6 Mt increase.

Manufacturing sector:
Emissions remained largely stable between 2017 and 2024 (84 Mt in 2024), with minor year-to-year fluctuations due to temporary production changes, shutdowns, and slowdowns in key subsectors like alumina/aluminium, non-ferrous metals, wood products, and cement/concrete.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction:
Emissions increased 14% (16 Mt) since 2017, driven mainly by oil sands extraction in Alberta (+11 Mt), reflecting increased synthetic crude and bitumen production. Emissions from this subsector reached 80 Mt in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Other sectors:
Facilities grouped under “Other” experienced a 13% increase (3 Mt), mainly from natural gas pipeline transportation, while emissions from waste management remained generally consistent.

3.2.2 Long-term trends

Over the past two decades, long-term trends in facility-reported GHG emissions reflect sector-specific growth, decline, and structural changes.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction:
Emissions increased by 78 Mt between 2005 and 2024, driven primarily by oil sands extraction in Alberta (+53 Mt) and thermal oil extraction in Saskatchewan. Growth was further influenced by the addition of smaller reporting facilities in the oil and gas subsector following the 2017 threshold change.

Utilities sector:
Emissions declined by 65 Mt, with reductions largely from the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Alberta, fuel switching to lower-carbon sources, and increased reliance on hydro, nuclear, and renewables. The number of large fossil-fuel electric power facilities (i.e. with emissions above 1 Mt) dropped from 24 in 2005 to 19 in 2024 with their combined emissions reduced from 108 Mt to 35 Mt.

Manufacturing sector:
Overall emissions fell by 7 Mt (-8%), mainly from Ontario and Quebec facilities due to reduced production (e.g., iron/steel, cement); permanent closure of plants (adipic acid and primary magnesium) and phase-out of plants with old technology (aluminium). Alberta saw a 22% increase (4 Mt), driven by basic chemicals and petroleum/coal products subsectors, partially offsetting declines elsewhere.

Other long-term patterns:
For facilities emitting ≥50 kt, total emissions decreased by 4.2% since 2005, highlighting that growth is largely from smaller facilities reporting under lower thresholds. Sector-specific changes reflect expansions, closures, technological upgrades, and new facility operations.

4 Facility-reported emissions and the National GHG Inventory

Facility-reported emissions under the GHGRP represent a substantial portion of Canada’s industrial emissions,^{Footnote 7} as captured in the National GHG Inventory. In 2024, facilities reported 292 Mt CO₂ eq., representing 43% of Canada’s total GHG emissions (685 Mt) and 64% of national industrial emissions. While the GHGRP focuses mainly on large industrial emitters, the National GHG Inventory captures all sources, including road transportation, residential heating, agriculture, and smaller diffuse sources (Figure 9).

Facility-reported data are an important input to the national GHG inventory, supporting provincial, territorial and national emission estimates. The degree of integration depends on the detail and type of facility data, data quality and the 2017 expansion of the GHGRP. More information on the use of GHGRP data can be found in Chapter 1 of Canada’s National Inventory Report (NIR) 1990–2024.

Notes:
a. Industrial emissions are defined using National GHG Inventory source categories; see footnote 7.

5 Additional information about the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

5.1 Data quality

Reliable data are essential for the GHGRP, and facilities are legally required to report complete, accurate, and truthful information (CEPA sets penalties for non-compliance or knowingly submitting false information). Facilities must retain all submitted data, calculations, and measurements for three years. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) applies rigorous quality control and assurance checks to maintain data integrity. Data in this report are informational; ongoing analyses may result in periodic updates.

ECCC conducts QC/QA reviews, including:

• identifying emitters who fail to report (potentially below threshold)
• investigating significant year-to-year changes in emissions
• comparing emissions to expected values for specific industries
• cross-checking reported data with independent sources
• reviewing calculation methods and results

5.2 Public access

GHGRP facility-level data are publicly available through online tables, a searchable database, and mapping tools, with some additional details previously included in this overview report now annexed in the publicly available open data files. Users can access further information via:

Reported Facility GHG Data

Reporting to the GHGRP

Canada’s Official GHG Inventory

Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators

5.3 Links to other federal facility reporting and provincial reporting

Facilities reporting to the GHGRP may also report to other federal and provincial programs:

• National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): Collects data on pollutant releases, disposals, and transfers; GHGRP reporters provide their NPRI ID to facilitate comparison
• Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS): Facilities report similar GHG data, and reporting requirements have been harmonized to reduce duplication where possible
• Provincial Reporting: Several provinces require annual GHG reporting; ECCC’s Single Window system streamlines reporting and reduces burden, currently used by Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick
• Data Integration: GHGRP connects with OBPS and provincial programs to compare reported data and resolve discrepancies where needed

6 Contact us

For general public inquiries related to this report or other Environment and Climate Change Canada programs, please contact the Public Inquiries Centre:

Public Inquiries Centre
Place Vincent Massey Building 
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard 
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
Toll-free: 1-800-668-6767
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

For technical questions related to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), including reporting requirements, methodologies, or facility-reported data, please contact the program directly:

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Place Vincent Massey Building
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
E-mail: GES-GHG@ec.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-877-877-8375
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