Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System: Protocols
Highlights
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has published the preliminary draft Direct Air Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage federal offset protocol for a 60-day comment period, ending on March 28, 2025. Written comments on the preliminary draft protocol can be sent to creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca.
Webinars will be held on February 19, 2025, to provide a high-level overview of the preliminary draft protocol and answer questions. Registration prior to the event is mandatory through the following links:
- French session (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST): Webex French
- English session (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST): Webex English
ECCC has also published Version 1.2 of the Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Systems federal offset protocol.
Protocol | Most recent version | Publication date | Provinces and territories where the protocol is applicable |
---|---|---|---|
Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction |
1.1 | February 24, 2023 | Everywhere except British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec |
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Systems | 1.2 | January 27, 2025 | Everywhere |
Improved Forest Management on Private Land | 1.1 | October 15, 2024 | Everywhere except British Columbia |
What is a Federal Offset Protocol
Federal offset protocols set out requirements for project implementation and methods for quantifying GHG emission reductions and removals for given project types. Only eligible project activities included in a published federal offset protocol will be able to generate federal offset credits in Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System.
Once final, federal offset protocols are included in the Compendium of Federal Offset Protocols.
How are Federal Offset Protocols developed
ECCC develops federal offset protocols on an ongoing basis. This is done with input from a team of external technical experts for each protocol (see below for more information). Technical experts include volunteers from relevant Canadian organizations and academia. We also have ongoing engagement with:
- experts in ECCC
- experts in other Departments
- provinces and territories
- Indigenous participants
Draft protocols are posted on Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System website for a comment period. This gives stakeholders and the public the chance to submit comments to help improve the quality and usability of protocols.
Emission Factors and Reference Values
Project proponents must quantify the GHG emission reductions and removals from their project using the methods in the applicable federal offset protocol. Project proponents must also use the emission factors and reference values set out in:
Protocol Development Status
ECCC is currently developing the following federal offset protocols:
- Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle:
- a draft protocol was published for a comment period, which closed on February 6, 2024
- publication of the final protocol is targeted for winter/spring 2025
- Direct Air Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage:
- a preliminary draft protocol has been published for a 60-day comment period, ending March 28, 2025
- Reducing Manure Methane Emissions: publication of the draft protocol is targeted for winter 2025
- Enhanced Soil Organic Carbon: the timeline for publication of the draft protocol is to be determined
- Improved Forest Management on Public Land: the timeline for publication of the draft protocol is to be determined
As protocols are completed and published, work on new protocols will begin. Development of a protocol on Bioenergy Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage is under consideration. Note that protocols listed as under development above may not all be completed and published. Other project types will also be considered for protocol development in the future.
Technical Experts
Roster of Technical Experts
To support federal offset protocol development, ECCC is seeking input on a volunteer basis from external technical experts with significant expertise related to offset project development; GHG quantification; verification; sector-based best practices; offset protocol development; and/or relevant academic research.
Individuals with significant technical and/or scientific expertise who would like to be considered for placement on the Roster of Technical Experts are invited to download and complete the following:
Completed forms and an updated CV should be sent to creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca, with the subject line: “Candidacy Package for Roster of Technical Experts”. Candidate submissions will be accepted on an on-going basis.
Updates to qualifications, project types of interest, changes to contact information, or requests for removal from the Roster of Technical Experts can be made at any time by emailing creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca.
Technical Expert Teams
ECCC will establish Technical Expert Teams made up of individuals from the Roster of Technical Experts to provide technical input on federal offset protocol development. As specific expertise is required for each project type, the membership of each Technical Expert Team will vary depending on the protocol. Not all individuals on the Roster of Technical Experts will necessarily be placed on a Technical Expert Team.
Contact information
For inquiries on the Credit and Tracking System: CreditsCompensatoiresSCSC-OffsetsCATS@ec.gc.ca.
For general inquiries on Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System: creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca.
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