Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Canada
The release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and their increasing concentration in the atmosphere is leading to a changing climate. This change has an impact on the environment, human health and the economy. Greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for periods ranging from a few years to thousands of years. As such, they have a worldwide impact, no matter where they were first emitted [ref]. Climate change is the most important issue humanity faces, and practically everything we do contributes to its effects, and everything we rely on is influenced by its consequences.
According to 2019 data gathered to assess the highest emitting countries and regions in the world, Canada ranked as the 10th in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Canada’s share of global emissions decreased from 1.8% in 2005 to 1.5% in 2019. In 2019 Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions were 729 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, which was a 1.5% decrease from the previous year [ref].
The oil and gas industry, which accounted for 27% of total national emissions, followed by transportation at 25%, were top emitters. The electricity sector accounted for 11%, while buildings contributed 12% of emissions. Agriculture, waste, and other industries made up the rest. Additionally, Canada’s per capita emissions in 2019 were 19.7 tonnes of CO2 eq, which is higher than the global average of 7.2 tonnes per capita [ref].
It’s worth noting that methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 80 times higher than that of carbon dioxide in a 20-year period. Methane is responsible for around 30 percent of the global rise in temperatures to date and half a million premature deaths globally each year. It also accounts for about 13 percent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Of the total methane emissions in Canada, the upstream oil and gas sector contributed approximately 40% [ref]. Slashing emissions from methane is one of the fastest and lowest-cost ways to fight climate change [ref]. As such, monitoring and reducing methane emissions is an important component of efforts to address climate change.
|
Canada’s Methane Strategy and Emissions Reduction Plan
Canada recognizes that reducing methane is essential to slowing the rate of near-term climate change and has benefits for global air quality and human health which is why it joined the Global Methane Pledge in 2021, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030.
As part of that commitment, Canada released the “Faster, Further Methane Strategy” that was developed by the Canadian government, specifically Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders from the oil and gas industry, environmental groups, and other organizations [ref]. The Strategy provides a pathway to reduce methane from across the economy while also advancing Canada’s world-class expertise in methane technologies to capitalize on green energy jobs now and in the future.
The proposed regulations aim to reduce methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector by 40-45% below 2012 levels by 2025. The regulations would apply to facilities such as oil and gas wells, processing plants, and compressor stations and would require companies to regularly monitor their equipment for leaks and take corrective action when necessary. The proposed regulations would establish new requirements for equipment design, installation, and reporting. The regulations would also require companies to provide more detailed information on their methane emissions, which would be available to the public [ref].
The regulatory framework is currently in the development stage and is subject to change. Once the regulations are finalized, they will be enforced under Canada’s Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). The proposed regulations are part of Canada’s broader efforts to meet its climate change commitments, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 [ref].
Earlier this year, Canada tabled its first-ever Emissions Reduction Plan. The 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is an ambitious and achievable roadmap that outlines a sector-by-sector path for Canada to reach its emissions reduction target of 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050 [ref].
Canada is now on the path to reducing its methane emissions by more than 35% by 2030, compared to 2020. Canada has the expertise, know-how, and skilled workforce to help now. As countries around the world and Canada take action to reduce greenhouse gasses, they can depend on global leaders like GHGSat.
|
GHGSat Tackles Methane Emissions
Today, GHGSat is still the only organization that can measure and accurately pinpoint methane emissions to an industrial source from space. GHGSat’s mission is to become the global partner of choice for high-resolution greenhouse gas monitoring, providing actionable intelligence that helps industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining, waste management, and agriculture perform better, reduce their carbon intensity, and achieve their emission targets.
GHGSat uses its own satellites and aircraft sensors to measure greenhouse gas emissions directly from industrial sites, providing actionable insights to businesses, governments, and financial services. With proprietary remote-sensing and patented technology, GHGSat enables strategic and impactful decarbonization decision-making through monitoring and analytics services, with better accuracy, more frequently, and at a fraction of the cost of other technologies.
Improved emissions information will enable industries to better measure, control, and ultimately reduce their carbon footprint. Operators of industrial sites can monitor all their facilities, local or remote, anywhere in the world, with common technology, in near-real time. GHGSat, which currently operates 8 commercial satellites in orbit, is the only constellation that can detect emissions with such precision. This capacity will increase during the coming months and years as the company scales up its constellation offering.
Accurately monitoring methane emissions from business operations can provide valuable information for identifying and reducing emissions. By tracking emissions, businesses can identify areas where methane leaks are occurring and take action to repair or replace equipment, improve maintenance practices, and implement best management practices to reduce emissions. Accurately monitoring methane emissions can also help businesses to assess the effectiveness of their emissions reduction efforts over time.
|
GHGSat Monitoring GHG in Canada to Reduce Emissions
Canada is committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, and reducing methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector is a key component of this effort. Monitoring GHG gases and methane emissions is essential to meet the country’s climate change commitments and reduce the impact of these emissions on the environment and human health.
GHGSat’s satellite data shows that Canada performs better than other countries, including the US when it comes to large emissions visible by satellites. However, enhanced vigilance, particularly related to methane emissions, is crucial to long-term success, and Canada has the capacity and ambition to preserve its leadership.
As the global leader in high-resolution emissions monitoring from space, GHGSat provides precise and actionable data on methane emissions, empowering organizations to take action to mitigate emissions and reduce their environmental impact. GHGSat’s technology can detect and measure methane emissions from specific sources, such as oil and gas facilities, landfills, and power plant operations, with a high degree of accuracy.
GHGSat was the world’s first operator to have detected and measured the significant leak in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in 2022, which leaked at an estimated rate of 79 000kg/h of methane during a satellite pass. GHGSat, which currently operates 8 commercial satellites in orbit, is the only constellation that can measure greenhouse gas emissions with such precision. GHGSat’s ambition is to support, with its emissions data, the mitigation of 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2026 with its satellite constellation growth.
|
GHGSat at COP27: Assessing Progress on GHG Reduction Goals
Global transparency in methane emissions is critical to support international efforts for methane reductions, and innovative technologies such as satellite monitoring are making such transparency a reality today. GHGSat was invited to host a panel as part of COP27 which aimed to assess progress toward meeting the COP26 goals, specifically concerning progress on the Global Methane Pledge. Egypt’s Presidency Goals also urged speakers to discuss the need to move from negotiations and planning to implementation, and to achieve this accurate data on methane emissions will need to be accessible to stakeholders. This was an opportunity for GHGSat to showcase Canadian innovation, climate actions and perspectives within the global context through its leadership with the only purpose-built, commercial and operational methane monitoring satellite constellation in the world.
|
Climate Change in Canada and Across the World: GHGSat’s technology detects and measures greenhouse gas emissions.
GHGsat is the global leader in high-resolution emissions monitoring from space and provides unique emissions data to carbon-intensive industries and governments. Our services aim to provide precise and actionable data on methane emissions, empowering organizations to take action to mitigate emissions and reduce their environmental impact. Utilizing advanced commercial high-resolution satellite technology, we can detect and measure methane emissions from various sources and facilities worldwide, including oil and gas operations, coal mines, waste management and power plants.
|
GHGSat accurately measures greenhouse gas emissions
By providing independent and accurate emissions data to businesses and governments, GHGSat helps them to better understand their greenhouse gas emissions and develop effective strategies to reduce their impact on the environment. GHGSat gathers emissions data from different regions around the world, providing valuable insights into global emissions trends and helping to identify areas where emissions reductions are needed most.
Our satellite technology provides businesses and countries with valuable emissions data and insights that help them to better understand greenhouse gas emissions. This includes:
-
Third-party data: GHGSat’s technology can be used to supplement data from third-party sources, such as government agencies or industry associations, to provide a more comprehensive view of greenhouse gas emissions in a particular region. By combining data from multiple sources, businesses and countries can gain a better understanding of the sources and locations of emissions, which is critical for developing effective mitigation strategies.
-
Emission benchmarks: GHGSat’s data can be used to establish emission benchmarks for specific industries or regions. By comparing emissions data to established benchmarks, businesses and countries can identify areas where emissions are above average and take action to reduce them.
-
Identify actionable priorities: GHGSat’s technology can help businesses and countries to prioritize emissions sources based on their contribution to overall emissions. By identifying the largest sources of emissions, businesses and countries can focus their mitigation efforts on the areas where they can have the greatest impact.
-
Aggregated data: GHGSat’s technology can provide aggregated data on emissions sources, allowing businesses and countries to better understand the overall contribution of different sources to methane emissions. This information can be used to develop targeted strategies to reduce methane emissions from specific sources.
Our technology provides businesses and countries with high-resolution data that serves as a powerful tool for understanding emissions. By providing accurate, frequent and comprehensive data on methane emissions sources, businesses and countries can develop effective mitigation strategies that help to reduce their impact on the environment.
