Reporting Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Canada

Abstract

Non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases are considered in “Canada’s National Report on Climate Change: Actions to Meet Commitments Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”. By including all major greenhouse gases and their anthropogenic sources and sinks using best available science, the Report provides a practical illustration of the “comprehensive approach” policy to implementing the Convention’s requirements. In addition to carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, the Report includes information on other sources and sinks for carbon dioxide, and for methane and nitrous oxide. Other gases considered include polyflourocarbons, hydroflourocarbons, and the primary tropospheric ozone precursors, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Current Global Warming Potential indices are used to compare and integrate the best estimates of climate change impacts of the major greenhouse gases. The presentation of emission data is intended to be transparent and comparable. The relative quality of the data for various gases and sources is indicated. The existence of environmental, economic, and other benefits to limiting emissions of all greenhouse gases, in addition to carbon dioxide, should be recognized. Continuing assessments and actions on non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, both nationally and internationally, are suggested.