Canada

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Canada is an industrialized country in a northern climate. This Places page is part of the Knowledge Base.


Contents

Overview

As part of Canada's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Environment Canada monitors and reports on greenhouse gas emissions and removals. These are known as sources and sinks. Sources are any process or activity which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and a sink is any process or mechanism which removes greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases included in the national inventory are: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6),Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).


The inventory is structured to match the reporting requirements of the UNFCCC and is divided into six main sectors: Energy; Industrial Processes; Solvent and Other Product Use; Agriculture; LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry), and Waste. Canada contributes about 2% of total global GHG emissions globally but it is one of the highest per capita emitters. In 2005 for example, per capita, Canada emitted 23.1 t of GHGs, which represents an 8% growth since1990. The National Inventory Report took place from 1990–2005. The sectoral emission trends revealed both declines and increases, but for the most part the increases in emissions far outweighed the decreases, for a net growth of 151 Mt or a 25% increase from the 1990 levels. The largest portion of emissions growth is seen in the Energy Sector which accounts for approximately 82% of Canada’s GHG’s emissions.


As of 2004 Canada’s renewable energy sources accounted for 18% of Canada’s primary energy supply. Although this amount is slowly increasing, some feel it is happening too slowly. If Canada has any hope of meeting its -6% Kyoto benchmark for 2012 our reliance on renewable resources needs to increase drastically. Canada is the world leader in hydroelectricity production. As the largest renewable contributor, hydroelectricity accounts for 60% of Canada’s renewable energy supply. Other forms of renewable energy such as Wind, Solar, Tidal, and Geothermal Power account for less than ~1% of Canada’s energy supply. According to research performed in 2002 by the European Wind Energy Association, Canada was only utilizing 1% of its potential wind power. With an estimated 28,000 MW of energy available yearly, wind power may become a much larger contributor in the years to come. The federal Income Tax Act allows for a 30%/yr write-off on renewable operating equipment, with even more lucrative incentives for first time exploratory energy sources.


Several of the provinces are also looking to impose a cap-and-trade, carbon market system to help catalyze more efficient energy use and overall net reductions in GHGs. As a result, companies across the country are strategizing how they are going to make their businesses more energy efficient and still profitable in the anticipation of a carbon market in Canada. Upon critique of already existing carbon market systems around the world, it is important that Canada’s system actually helps contribute to net reductions in GHGs since there are many examples where this is not the case. Strict adherence to protocol and compliance to regulation are essential if a proper, economically viable and net GHG reducing carbon credit system is to work in Canada


The National Inventory Report

As part of Canada's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Environment Canada monitors and reports on greenhouse gas emissions and removals. These are known as sources and sinks. Sources are any process or activity which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and a sink is any process or mechanism which removes greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.[1] The greenhouse gases included in the national inventory are: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6),Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).


The inventory is structured to match the reporting requirements of the UNFCCC and is divided into six main sectors: Energy; Industrial Processes; Solvent and Other Product Use; Agriculture; LULUCF; Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry, Waste.


Canada contributes 2% of total global GHG emissions, Globally but it is one of the highest per capita emitters. In 2005, for example per capita Canada emitted 23.1 t of GHGs, which represents an 8% growth since 1990.


Canada’s Provinces emit different amounts of green house gases due to the distribution of natural resources and heavy industry. For example Facilities in Alberta accounted for the largest share of reported emissions, with approximately 42% of the total, followed by those in Ontario, which accounted for about 26%. British Columbia contributes 8% of Canada’s GHG’s


The National Inventory Report took place from 1990–2005. The sectoral emission trends revealed both declines and increases, but for the most part the increases in emissions far outweighed the decreases, for a net growth of 151 Mt or a 25% increase from the 1990 levels. The largest portion of emissions growth is seen in the Energy Sector which accounts for approximately 82% of Canada’s GHG’s emissions.[2]


Canada's Renewable Energy Resources

Canada is a vast landscape consisting of mighty rivers, expansive prairies and distant coastlines which provide various sources of renewable energy. At present, much of the technology required to take full advantage of these renewable resources is under developed or in the early stages of commercialization. Sparked by increasing oil prices, Canada's interest in the use of renewable energy sources has steadily increased since the 1970's.[3] As of 2004 Canada’s renewable energy sources accounted for 18% of Canada’s primary energy supply. Although this amount is slowly increasing, some feel it is happening too slowly. If Canada has any hope of meeting its -6% Kyoto benchmark for 2012 our reliance on renewable resources needs to increase drastically.

Canada is the world leader in hydroelectricity production.[4] As the largest renewable contributor, hydroelectricity accounts for 60% of Canada’s renewable energy supply.[5] Although they are an effective renewable source of energy hydro is not without controversy. The social and environmental impacts of hydro power plants on ecosystems must be taken into consideration. Further developments minimizing the ecological and environmental effects on rivers and their inhabitants are important steps towards an improved renewable energy source.[6]

Conventional steam and nuclear generated power account for ~36%[7] of renewable energies, with CANDU nuclear reactors operating in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. [8] Biomass provides energy in the form of fuel-wood, wood processing residues, landfill methane gas, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and sewage biogas.[9]By 1999, Canada was generating 85.3 MW of electricity from captured municipal landfill gas.[10]

Other forms of renewable energy such as Wind, Solar, Tidal, and Geothermal Power account for less than ~1% of Canada’s energy supply. Initiatives by the government providing Income Tax reductions on renewable technologies should continue to help promote these technologies. The federal Income Tax Act allows for a 30%/yr write-off on renewably operating equipment, with even more lucrative incentives for first time exploratory energy sources (such as the first wind turbine of a wind farm).[11] According to research performed in 2002 by the European Wind Energy Association, Canada was only utilizing 1% of its potential wind power. With an estimated 28,000 MW of energy available yearly, wind power may become a much larger contributor in the years to come.[12]

At present tidal energy is not seen as a viable energy resource for Canada due to questions of economic feasibility. However, Canada does have a vast coast line that could prove to be very productive as newer more efficient methods of capturing tidal energy are developed. Ocean Power Technology

Geothermal energy has the ability to heat or cool depending on its source. Geothermal heat pumps work by absorbing or transferring heat through pipes buried under the ground/water. They are effective as heat sources in the winter and heat "sinks" in the summer. Because the Earth's underground temperature is being leveraged by a heat exchanger to add more heat or to absorb excess heat, earth energy systems use 25- 75 percent less electricity than conventional heating or cooling systems.[13] It has been estimated that 30,000 heat pumps have been installed in Canada to provide heat and/or cooling to commercial buildings and larger private homes.[14]

Non anthropogenic forces contributing to climate change

The National Inventory Report lays out a comprehensive assessment of all the green house gas (GHG) sources in Canada due to anthropogenic factors (NIR, 2007). However, upon review of recent scholarly literature it can be found that there are other forces outside the realm of human beings that may also contribute to global warming over the last 100 years or so. Solar irradiance and the sunspot cycle can cause variations in the temperature of the earth, especially during the height of the sunspot cycle. Alexeev explains that up to 25% of the global warming during the last few decades may be attributable to variations in solar activity[15]. Another study showed that although solar irradiance increases alone have a negligible effect on the overall temperature change of the earth, if it is coupled with decreased albedo (earth’s reflectance of shortwave radiation), this can contribute to surface temperature rises. Increased cloud cover and anthropogenic factors such as rises in GHGs can all affect albedo, which can lead to positive feedback loops that perpetuate the warming trend[16].

Climate change's increased effect on northern latitudes

Northern latitudes in Canada are especially vulnerable to warming trends. This is due to the fact that the Northern Hemisphere retains a larger portion of the total global landmass. In turn, the ratio of land to water (in area) in the N.H. is larger with 39 percent land and 61 percent water. Whereas in the southern hemisphere the ratio is 19 percent land to 81 percent water. This is significant due the high degree of thermal inertia exhibited by the ocean. It provides a moderating effect to the areas which it is proximate to. Although the Canadian arctic consists of land, sea water, and ice, it is not influenced as heavily by the moderating effects of the ocean. This can lead to larger rates of temperature increase in these latitudes as compared to reciprocal southern latitudes [17].

Links and Resources

References

  1. ↑ Canada’s National Climate Change website http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/index-eng.cfm
  2. ↑ NATIONAL INVENTORY REPORT, 1990-2005: GREENHOUSE GAS SOURCES AND SINKS IN CANADA http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/inventory_report/2005_report/s1_eng.cfm
  3. ↑ Mazharul Islam, Amir Fartaj and David S. -K. Ting. Current utilization and future prospects of emerging renewable energy applications in Canada Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 8-6 (2004) 493-519
  4. ↑ Natural Resources Canada. Renewable energy in Canada: status report 2002. Ontario, Canada, March, 2002.
  5. ↑ Canadian Electricity Association 2003, http://www.canelect.ca
  6. ↑ Pembina Institute. Low-impact renewable energy policy in Canada: strengths, gaps and a path forward. Canada. February, 2003
  7. ↑ Canadian Electricity Association 2003, http://www.canelect.ca
  8. ↑ http://www.cns-snc.ca/nuclear_info/canadareactormap.gif
  9. ↑ Natural Resources Canada. Renewable energy in Canada: status report 2002. Ontario, Canada, March, 2002.
  10. ↑ Landfill Gas Industry Alliance. Undated; http://www.lfgindustry.org/Landfill.asp
  11. ↑ Huang Liming, Emdad Haque and Stephan Barg. Public policy discourse, planning and measures toward sustainable energy strategies in Canada. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 12-1 (2008) 91-115
  12. ↑ European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Record growth for global wind power in 2002; 2002.
  13. ↑ http://www.canren.gc.ca/prod_serv/index.asp?CaId=152&PgId=776
  14. ↑ World Energy Council. Survey of energy resources 2001, London, UK; 2001.
  15. ↑ Alexeev, V.A., (2007). Some features of climate change on Earth and its possible relation to solar-activity variations. Solar System Research, 41 (6), 527-534.
  16. ↑ Goode, P.R. & Palle, E., (2007). Shortwave forcing of the Earth's climate: Modern and historical variations in the Sun's irradiance and the Earth's reflectance. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 69 (13), 1556-1568.
  17. ↑ Alexeev, V.A., (2007). Some features of climate change on Earth and its possible relation to solar-activity variations. Solar System Research, 41 (6), 527-534.
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