Canada's emissions projected to miss Copenhagan reduction committment

Canada signed the Copenhagen Accord in December 2009 and committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 612 Mt or 17 percent below 2005 levels (737 Mt) by 2020.

Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2011 were 702 megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq).   Canada’s emissions growth between 1990 and 2011 was driven primarily by increased emissions from the fossil fuel industries and transportation. Emission reductions from 2005 to 2011 were driven primarily by reduced emissions from electricity generation and manufacturing.

Based on 2011 emissions and existing regulations the Government of Canada estimates the country will produce 734 MT of greenhouse gases in 2020, or 122 MT higher than its committment target in Copenhagen.