Fact sheet: Early Estimate of National Emissions 2023

Canada's total emissions in 2023 were estimated at 702 megatonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (Mt), a 0.8 per cent decrease from 2022 and 7.8 per cent below 2005 levels. While the electricity sector has seen a 62 per cent reduction since 2005, oil and gas emissions have risen by 12.1 per cent in the same period, now accounting for 31 per cent of the national total. Despite economic growth and a population increase of 1.16 million people in 2023, emissions fell due to climate policy and market drivers, though a 7 per cent annual reduction in emissions per unit of GDP is required to meet the 2030 target of a 40–45 per cent reduction below 2005 levels.

• Canada's total emissions in 2023 were estimated at 702 megatonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (Mt), representing a 0.8 per cent decrease (-5.6 Mt) from 2022 and a 7.8 per cent reduction from 2005 levels. This progress is insufficient to meet the 2030 target of a 40–45 per cent reduction below 2005 levels.
• The oil and gas sector is a primary driver of emissions, with production emissions increasing by 2.2 Mt from 2022 to 2023. The sector now accounts for 31 per cent of Canada's national emissions and has seen a 12.1 per cent increase since 2005, reaching 219 Mt CO2e.
• Progress in emissions reductions is uneven across sectors. The electricity sector has achieved a 62 per cent reduction since 2005. In 2023, building emissions fell by 5.6 per cent (5 Mt), partly due to climate-change-supercharged El Niño weather. Conversely, transport emissions rose by 1.6 per cent (2.5 Mt), primarily due to rail (+8.2 per cent) and domestic air travel (+17.9 per cent; 1.3 Mt) returning to pre-pandemic levels.
• National emissions decreased by 0.8 per cent in 2023 despite a 1.2 per cent increase in the economy and a population growth of 1.16 million people (3 per cent). While climate policy and market drivers reduced emissions by 14.2 Mt (offsetting an 8.6 Mt increase from economic growth), a 7 per cent annual reduction in emissions per unit of GDP is necessary to reach the 2030 target.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2024). Fact sheet: Early Estimate of National Emissions 2023. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fact-sheet_-Early-Estimate-of-National-Emissions-2023.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Fact sheet: Early Estimate of National Emissions 2023. 2024. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fact-sheet_-Early-Estimate-of-National-Emissions-2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Fact sheet: Early Estimate of National Emissions 2023 |date=19 September 2024 |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fact-sheet_-Early-Estimate-of-National-Emissions-2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2024fact, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Fact sheet: Early Estimate of National Emissions 2023}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Fact-sheet_-Early-Estimate-of-National-Emissions-2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }