Canada and Global Warming

Submitted by Richard on Fri, 21/03/2008 - 6:14pm

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Greenhouse Gas Emitters in Canada

The scientific community has proven that global warming is a reality, and is mostly caused by human activity. The Kyoto Accord, which Canada is a party to, compels Canada to enact measures to combat global warming, basically, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is little doubt that any measures that will effectively achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to a level that has an effect on global warming will also have an impact on the lifestyles of Canadians.

West Vancouver BC

How does Canada achieve our ‘Kyoto’ responsibilities and still retain our customary Canadian standards of lifestyle? Is that possible?

Is Canada as a nation and the majority of Canadians personally willing to accept the measures necessary to achieving our ‘Kyoto’ commitments? Before answering that question, one must know what measures are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and then consider the many cost factors consequential in enacting and implementing those measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

Before deciding what measures are needed, we need to know the causes of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

Who are the polluters in Canada?

The following information is from Pollution Watch “PollutionWatch is your source for information about pollutants that facilities release and transfer in your community, including toxic pollutants (such as benzene, lead, dioxins and furans), Criteria Air Contaminants (pollutants that cause smog and acid rain) and greenhouse gases (air pollutants that lead to global climate change).”

Ranking Provinces by Total Reported Releases
& Transfers with Combined Air Release

For further information within each Province, click on the Province name.

Rank Provinces Total Reported Releases (kg) Percentage
1 Alberta 1,339,425,122 28.37%
2 Ontario 1,118,002,284 23.68%
3 Quebec 634,658,567 13.44%
4 British Columbia 548,771,914 11.62%
5 Manitoba 420,852,061 8.91%
6 Saskatchewan 253,517,662 5.37%
7 Nova Scotia 171,293,795 3.63%
8 New Brunswick 142,012,888 3.01%
9 Newfoundland 76,957,907 1.63%
10 Northwest Territories 7,843,841 .17%
11 Nunavut 4,529,561 .10%
12 Prince Edward Island 3,034,473 .06%
13 Yukon 140,493 --

Breakdown by Pollutants; Canada Totals 2005:

The units of measurement for data presented below are in kilograms (kg), excluding hexachlorobenzene which is measured in grams (g) and dioxins/furans which are measured in grams (g) TEQ.
(NOTE: Click on the column total number for a detailed look at the data.)

Pollutant Air Release Water Release Land Release (on-site) Underground Injection (on-site) Total On-site Release
Combined Total 4,004,785,204 116,417,389 34,835,427 283,978,516 4,440,016,537
Toxics Total 114,379,811 116,417,389 34,835,427 283,978,516 549,611,143

Top 30 Polluters in Canada?

Rank Facilities Companies Province
1 HBM&S Co., Ltd. -Metallurgical Complex HUDSON BAY MINING & SMELTING MB
2 Copper Cliff Smelter Complex INCO ON
3 Thompson Operations INCO MB
4 N/A Zalev Brothers Co. ON
5 Mildred Lake Plant Site SYNCRUDE CANADA AB
6 Nanticoke Generating Station ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ON
7 Boundary Dam Power Station SaskPower SK
8 Kitimat Works Alcan Primary Metal BC
9 Sundance Generating Facility TRANSALTA UTILITIES AB
10 Lingan Generating Station NOVA SCOTIA POWER NS
11 Poplar River Power Station SaskPower SK
12 Usine de Sept-?les Aluminerie Alouette Inc. QC
13 Rainbow Lake Processing Plant Husky Energy AB
14 West Stoddart Gas Processing Plant CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES BC
15 Brazeau River Gas Plant KEYERA Energy Ltd. AB
16 Sheerness Generating Station Alberta Power (2000) Ltd. AB
17 Aluminerie de Baie-Comeau Alcoa Ltd QC
18 Lambton Generating Station ONTARIO POWER GENERATION ON
19 Trenton Generating Station NOVA SCOTIA POWER NS
20 Smelter Complex Falconbridge Limited ON
21 Usine Alma ALCAN QC
22 Suncor Energy Inc. Oil Sands SUNCOR ENERGY AB
23 Aluminerie de B¨¦cancour inc. Aluminerie de B¨¦cancour inc. QC
24 Battle River Generating Station Alberta Power (2000) Ltd. AB
25 Genesee Thermal Generating Station EPCOR GENERATION AB
26 Jedney Gas and Processing Facility DEGT Midstream Canada Inc. BC
27 Stelco Hamilton STELCO ON
28 Sarnia Refinery Plant Imperial Oil ON
29 Usine Laterriere ALCAN QC
30 Wembley Gas Plant ConocoPhillips Canada AB

Many of the Top 10 CEPA Toxic air polluters also reported emitting greenhouse gases in 2005. Five of the Top 10 CEPA Toxic air polluters also make up the list of top greenhouse gas emitters for 2005.

Top 10 Greenhouse Gas Emitters in 2005 (tonnes CO2 equivalent)

Rank Facility Name Company Name Total of All Gases Prov.
1 Nanticoke Generating Station Ontario Power Generation 17,629,437 ON
2 Sundance Generating Facility/Plant TransAlta Utilities Corporation 16,181,007 AB
3 Mildred Lake and Aurora North Plant Sites Syncrude Canada Ltd. 10,357,330 AB
4 Genesee Thermal Generating Station EPCOR Power Development Corporatation 8,949,492 AB
5 Lambton Generating Station Ontario Power Generation 8,738,072 ON
6 Suncor Energy Inc. Oil Sands Suncor Energy Inc. Oil Sands 7,694,458 AB
7 Boundary Dam Power Station Saskatchewan Power Corporation 6,751,088 SK
8 Sheerness Generating Station Alberta Power (2000) Ltd. 6,522,557 AB
9 Keephills Generating Plant TransAlta Utilities Corporation 6,143,809 AB
10 Battle River Generating Station Alberta Power (2000) Ltd. 5,498,404 AB

The PollutionWatch national overview also found that 62% of all chemical reports by facilities to the federal government's national pollution reporting program – the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) – in 2005 show no pollution prevention activity.

“ Canada needs a more robust CEPA to eliminate and reduce threats posed to human health and the environment from releases of toxic substances to air, land and water. Effective pollution prevention strategies are critical for reducing both toxic pollutants that harm human health and those that cause climate change,” said Joe Castrilli, counsel to the Canadian Environmental Law Association. “Federal and provincial governments must set mandatory reduction targets for toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases.”

Percent of total Canadian emissions of greenhouse gases (2004). Source: Environment Canada.

Considering that between; electrical generation, transportation, home heating, recreation, and agriculture; the main contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada is collectively -
The Canadian Public. As individuals, Canadians use more energy per capita and create more pollution than individuals of any other nation.

Map pollution in your neighbourhood!

Use this search to create an interactive map of facilities reporting releases and transfers and greenhouse gases in your community. Just put in your street address, choose the type of pollution you want to search for, decide the geographic range of your search (kilometres from your home) and hit search. You will get detailed information about each reporting facility that appears on the map you have created.

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