Canada's greenhouse gas emissions climbed in 2022, after pandemic slowdown

Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic slowdown, according to new figures released by the federal government.

The new National Inventory Report data shows emissions reached 708 megatonnes in that year, compared with 698 megatonnes in 2021.

But Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the 2022 numbers are a sign his government's climate policies are working, with emissions totals the lowest in 25 years aside from the pandemic years.

«The report shows that Canada remains on track to meet our emission-reduction goals,» Guilbeault told a news conference Thursday.

«We're doing this as our country rebounds strongly from the global impact of the pandemic.»

Guilbeault said the numbers show the country remains on track for its 2030 goals.

The annual report is submitted to the United Nations and details Canada's progress on its emissions reduction plan.

Oil and gas sector leading source

The oil and gas sector was once again the largest source of emissions in Canada in 2022, accounting for a little more than 30 per cent of the total.

Emissions related to the transportation sector came second, while emissions produced from the making of electricity as the country has moved away from coal-powered plants.

Patrick Bonin, a climate campaigner at Greenpeace Canada, said an increase in emissions had been expected given the economic upswing, and that «the good news is that the rebound is lower than expected.»

Bonin said the figures show that regulations aimed at reducing emissions have been effective. A missing link in the current climate plan is a cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector, he said.

«The federal government must act quickly to implement the long-delayed emissions cap on this