TORONTO – Carbon emissions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) rose by a million tonnes in 2023, a 2% increase over the previous year, The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) reported today.
TAF’s latest GTHA carbon emissions inventory reflects 2023 data, unpacks the sources of emissions by sector, region, and municipality, and analyzes emission trends and progress against targets. The results stand in contrast to the annual 11% decrease needed to hit the region’s 2030 targets.
The inventory points to proven action that policymakers and corporate actors can start or accelerate to get the region’s emissions under control – beginning with stopping all new fossil fuel infrastructure.
TAF’s analysis of the data shows the 2% increase was driven by rising emissions in almost every sector: gasoline and diesel from more kilometres traveled by car, and fossil fuels used by industry, largely steel and cement manufacturing. Natural gas used for space and water heating in buildings decreased slightly due to a milder winter. Emissions from electricity spiked by 30% in 2023 due to increased use of gas plants for electricity generation.
These findings underscore the need for strong climate action across all sectors. Any expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and use will put cities’ 2030 climate targets firmly out of reach.
“Every politician and CEO, every decisionmaker must adopt carbon reduction as part of their core mandates,” says Julia Langer, CEO at TAF. “TAF’s annual inventory is designed to drive policies, programs, and investments aimed directly at emission sources. Let’s not fall into the false trap that climate action undermines urgent needs like affordability, housing, and mobility. The critical opportunity is to make progress on all these public priorities simultaneously.”
The report offers recommendations for policymakers and corporate leaders, a regional climate policy tracker, and highlights effective carbon emission reduction policies and programs in place across the GTHA, such as retrofit programs that support energy efficiency and switching from gas heating to electric heat pumps.
Read the full report: http://carbon.taf.ca/
Highlights
- This one-of-a-kind inventory uses consistent methodology, data sources, and time frames across all six GTHA regions and cities from 2015-2023 to create a comprehensive picture of the sources and amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Emissions (2023) come from: buildings (45%), transportation (37%), industry (14%), waste (3%), and agriculture (1%).
- Emissions from electricity rose by 30% in 2023 due to increased use of natural gas-powered generating plants.
- Building emissions decreased by 0.6% in 2023, which was largely attributed to a mild winter that translated to lower overall demand for natural gas space heating.
- Transportation emissions increased 4.7%, rebounding to pre-pandemic levels.
- The report features local data for each of the six GTHA regions and cities and recommendations for policymakers at all levels of government.
Notes to editors
Carbon Emissions Inventory for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area 2023 reports on the major sources of emissions across the region starting in 2015: buildings, transportation, industry, waste, and agriculture. The inventory generally follows the guidelines established in the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions, covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Inventory data in the region is available after a one-year delay, up to the previous year.
For more information
Julie Leach
Senior Manager, Campaigns and Communications
The Atmospheric Fund
jleach@taf.ca, 416 393 6382
Leave a Reply