Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in B.C. (1990-2021)

• Greenhouse gas emissions warm the global atmosphere and cause our climate to change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a key component to limiting the increase in global average temperature and the resulting changes in climate.

• A rebound in greenhouse gas emissions was observed in 2021, from the low 2020 levels brought about by the COVID‑19 pandemic. This was primarily driven by an increase in emissions from passenger and freight transportation.

• Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 in B.C. were 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO₂e). This is a 1% increase in gross emissions since 2020, a 4.9% decrease in gross emissions since 2019, and a 2.8% decrease in gross emissions since 2007—B.C.’s baseline year for assessing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

• B.C. applies emissions reductions from forest management carbon offsets to emission totals each year to determine net greenhouse gas emissions and progress to its official legislated targets. In 2021, carbon offsets totaled 1.1 Mt CO₂e, bringing net greenhouse gas emissions down to 60.9 Mt CO₂e, 4.4% below 2007 levels. Figures and calculations presented in this indicator use gross totals from the B.C. Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory (2021)¹ and do not account for any emission reductions from offset projects.

• B.C. has set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years. The targets are 40% reduction by 2030, 60% reduction by 2040 and 80% reduction by 2050, compared to 2007 levels. To keep B.C. on track, an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 16% from 2007 levels by 2025 was also set².

• Greenhouse gas intensity of the economy continues to fall. Greenhouse gas emissions per million dollars of GDP have been in decline since 1990 with the trend accelerating after 2001. The trend in emissions per person is less consistent, but has been downward for most of the last 20 years.

• Different gases make up the total greenhouse gas emissions reported over time. The gases released in 2021 were carbon dioxide (84.3% of total emissions), methane (10.5%), nitrous oxide (2.6%), hydrofluorocarbons (2.5%), and perfluorocarbons (0.1%).

• The transportation and fossil fuel sectors produce the most greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. Major transportation-related sources of greenhouse gas emissions include large passenger vehicles, trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and rail. The major fossil fuel industry source is natural gas production and processing.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in British Columbia

• In 2021, gross greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. were 2.8% lower than the 2007 baseline year.

• Per capita and economic greenhouse gas intensities are based on gross emissions totals. Values reported differ from those used in the Climate Change Accountability Report², which uses net emissions totals to calculate corresponding intensities.

• Overall, the greenhouse gases produced per person in B.C. were less in 2021 than the 2007 baseline year. Much of the decrease in 2020 is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this reduction held steady into 2021.

*To compare to per capita emissions from other jurisdictions, the afforestation and deforestation emissions included in the B.C. inventory were removed for this calculation, as these emission sources are not tracked everywhere. More details on these emissions are available below.

• Greenhouse gas emissions per million dollars of GDP varied year to year between 1990-2001 and have consistently declined since 2001.

• Population size and gross domestic product in B.C. have continually increased since 1990 (with the exception of GDP in 2009 and 2020), while greenhouse gas emissions have not shown a clear upward or downward trend; both GDP and emissions showed marked reductions in 2020.

Emissions by Greenhouse Gas

• There are 7 greenhouse gases monitored in B.C. The gases are carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃).

• Greenhouse gases have different Global warming potential³ (GWP). The GWP determines how much a gas traps heat in the atmosphere. For example, methane traps 25 times more heat than carbon dioxide, while sulphur hexafluoride traps 22,880 times more heat than carbon dioxide. To combine different gases for an overall emissions total, the emission values of each gas is converted to CO₂ equivalent in all of the figures and data in this indicator (British Columbia Greenhouse Gas Provincial Inventory Methodology⁴).

• The relative contribution of each greenhouse gas emitted in 2021 was CO₂ at 84.3%, CH₄ at 10.5%, N₂O at 2.6%, HFCs at 2.5%, PFCs at 0.1% and SF₆ at 0%. There has been no recorded emissions of NF₃ in B.C. to date.

• Note: The figure below is interactive. Click on a gas in the legend to add it or remove it from the graph or double-check to isolate one gas. Hover over a year/gas to see annual data. Use the slider at the bottom to look at a specific set of years.

How have emissions of different greenhouse gases changed over time?

• The amount of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted annually by each greenhouse gas was compared to 1990 levels. CO₂ emissions have fluctuated over time. CH₄ emissions have also varied since 1990 but have consistently declined since 2013.

• HFC emissions have gradually increased since 1990, peaking in 2020.

• N₂O and SF₆ emissions have changed very little since 1990. SF₆ emissions have been at or near 0 MtCO₂e since 2011.

• PFC emissions have varied year to year but have generally declined since 1998 and are below 1990 emissions.

• Note: The figure below is interactive. Click on a gas in the legend to add it or remove it from the graph or double-check to isolate one gas. Hover over a year/gas to see annual data. Use the slider at the bottom to look at a specific set of years.

How have greenhouse gas emissions changed within economic sectors?

• The amount of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted annually by each economic sector was compared to 1990 levels. The transportation sector had the largest increase in annual emissions of any sector over the past three decades. The fossil fuel sector also had consistent increases in annual emissions, with levels peaking from 2011 to 2014.

• Emissions from the transportation sector in 2021 increased 5.5% from 2020 levels but remain 5.1% lower than 2019 levels. The rebound in transportation emissions in 2021 is likely due to fewer COVID-19 travel restrictions.

• Heavy industry's emissions from 2000 to 2013 and have fluctuated over the past decade. Deforestation emissions declined from 1990 to 2005, after which they have remained consistent.

• Emissions from the buildings, agriculture, light industry, electricity, and waste sectors have fluctuated over the past three decades, but at a lower magnitude (< 2 Mt CO₂e) than other sectors.

• Each economic sector was broken down into more specific categories where available. This information is provided below.

• Note: The figure below is interactive. Click on an sector in the legend to add it or remove it from the graph or double-check to isolate one sector. Hover over a year/industry to see the difference compared to 1990 emissions levels. Use the slider at the bottom to look at a specific set of years.