Canada's greenhouse gas emissions
Canada's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been a significant concern due to the country's heavy reliance on fossil fuels and the development of its oil sands resources. As of 2004, Canada's GHG emissions totaled approximately 758 million metric tons, which was 35 percent above the limits set by the Kyoto Protocol. The energy sector is the primary contributor, responsible for about 81 percent of these emissions, driven largely by an increase in the use of sport utility vehicles and a growing demand for electricity. Despite a 14 percent decrease in emissions per unit of GDP from 1990 to 2004, the overall emissions rose by 27 percent during the same period. Canada ranked seventh globally in GHG emissions, contributing approximately 2.3 percent of the world’s total. In response to international commitments, particularly the Kyoto Protocol, the Canadian government has faced significant political challenges, including opposition from conservative leadership regarding its participation in global climate agreements. Efforts to establish mandatory emission limits for industry have been proposed but were not effectively implemented, leading to ongoing debates about Canada’s role in combating climate change.
Canada's greenhouse gas emissions
Historical and Political Context
Canada was first explored by English and French explorers at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century. Both England and France laid claim to Canada; England by John Cabot’s landing at Newfoundland in 1497 and France by Jacques Cartier’s discovery of the Saint Lawrence River. A long period of conflict between the two countries over ownership of Canada ensued. With the Treaty of Paris signed in 1763, France recognized Canada as belonging to England and relinquished all of its claims. Canada has continued to maintain a close relationship to England (today referred to as the United Kingdom). However, through a series of British parliamentary acts Canada has been granted legislative independence from the United Kingdom. This process began in 1867 with the British North American Act and continued into the twentieth century with the Statute of Westminster (1931) and the Canada Act (1982).
Canada has also enjoyed a long association with the United States, Britain’s other former North American colony. Economically the two countries have had a long mutual dependency as each is the other’s major trading partner. During their long trade relationship, Canada and the United States have often disagreed, imposed tariffs, and at times been almost isolationist in their attitudes. However, with the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, their relationship has in general become one of free trade. Canada’s economy has evolved from rural to industrialized, yet primary material, timber, oil, and gas, continue to play a very important role in the country’s economic sector.
Domestically, Canada is a country of a varied geographic makeup and of a widely divergent population. Multiculturalism and diversity dominate Canada’s social and cultural life. Both English and French are recognized as official languages. While British and French cultural heritage and traditions are certainly a major part of Canada’s culture, those of aboriginal tribes and Irish, Scot, and other immigrant groups as well as American influences are very visible in Canadian society. Canada is an active participant in the global community as a member of many international organizations including the United Nations, the G-8, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Francophonie.
Impact of Canadian Policies on Climate Change
Canada is a vast country which possesses very large reserves of natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable. Hydropower, a clean renewable source of energy, has been an important source of energy for Canada, especially for electricity. However, from 1990 to 2004, the demand for electricity in Canada increased some 23 percent and Canada increased its use of fossil fuels to meet this demand. Canada is in the process of developing the oil sands in the Athabasca Basin in the province of Alberta. The oil in the oil sands is bitumen, a thick viscous oil which requires considerable processing to be usable. The oil cannot be extracted by drilling but requires either open pit extraction or strip mining. The extraction of this oil emits in excess of 33 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs), accounting for approximately 5 percent of Canada’s emissions. If Canada follows its present program in regard to the oil sands, the emissions from the oil sands production would reach 12 percent by 2020. The oil producers and the Canadian government are involved in a heated battle with environmentalist groups over the extraction and use of this oil.
In addition, Canadians have changed their preferences in choice of motor vehicles. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and small pickup trucks now outnumber passenger automobiles on the roads of Canada. This has resulted in an increase in fuel consumption. Consequently, the majority of the increase in GHG emissions during the period has come from the energy sector, which is responsible for 81 percent of the GHGs emitted.
Canada as a GHG Emitter
According to Environment Canada’s report, Canada had GHG emissions totaling 600 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 1990. The Kyoto Protocol, which Canada ratified in December of 2002, calls for Canada to reduce these base year (1990) emissions by 6 percent. The GHG emissions target established for Canada by the 2008-2012 period is 568 million metric tons. From 1990 to 2004, Canada’s GHG emissions rose some 27 percent. Although the greenhouse emissions per unit of GDP fell by 2004 by 14 percent, the Canadian economy experienced considerable expansion that resulted in a net increase in the total emissions. In addition, the ratio of GHG emissions to the population rose by 10 percent. Canada was responsible for approximately 2.3 percent of the GHG emissions in the world. This amount of emissions ranked Canada seventh in the world in GHG emissions. The 2004 emissions of 758 million metric tons were 35 percent above the Kyoto Protocol target.
Summary and Foresight
Canada’s greenhouse emissions were 35 percent above the Kyoto Protocol target in 2004; by 2006 Canada had reduced its emissions to 21 percent above the Kyoto Protocol. In January of 2006, a conservative government which opposed Canada’s participation in the Kyoto Protocol was in place. In April, the government announced that Canada could not possibly meet its Kyoto Protocol target for the 2008-2012 period. The government further stated that it was seeking an alternative to participation in the Kyoto Protocol and proposed the possibility of joining the Asian-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. The federal government also proposed legislation setting mandatory emission limits for industry. Subsequently, a bill was introduced to force the government to take the necessary steps for Canada to achieve its Kyoto Protocol target. The bill passed but has been ignored by the government.
Key Facts
Population: 33,487,208 (July, 2008, estimate)Area: 9,984,670 square kilometersGross domestic product (GDP): $1.307 trillion (purchasing power parity, 2008 estimate)Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e): 600 in 1990; 650 in 1995; 758 in 2004Kyoto Protocol status: Ratified, 2002
Bibliography
Charnovitz, Steve, and Gary Clyde Hufbauer. Global Warming and the World Trading System. Washington, D.C.: Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2009. Discusses reductions in GHGs and their relation to trade and to trade organizations, especially the World Trade Organization. Details methods of reduction of GHGs without hurting domestic and global carbon-intensive industries. Appendix on using biofuel to save energy and reduce GHG emissions.
Dessler, Andrew E., and Edward A. Parson. The Science and Politics of Global Change:A Guide to the Debate. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Excellent introduction to climate change from a scientific viewpoint, as well as a clear review of global politics and their effects on decision making. Written for the general reader. Well illustrated with graphs and tables. Excellent suggestions for further reading.
Lee, Hyun Young. “Sand Storm.” Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2009, pp. R8-R9. Good article from an economics and world trade viewpoint. Also discusses how U.S. cap-and-trade policy could affect Canadian oil sands development and vice versa.
Marsden, William. Stupid to the Last Drop: How Alberta Is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (And Doesn’t Seem to Care). Reprint. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2008. Argues that development of the oil sands would destroy natural resources and habitat. Discusses the roles of various levels of government.
Shogren, Jason F. The Benefits and Costs of the Kyoto Protocol. Washington, D.C.: AEI Press, 1999. Excellent for understanding the Kyoto Protocol and the framework it creates for Canadian climate policy.