Mandatory GHG reporting for 2022 and 2023

Summary#

This is the federal Notice with respect to reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) for 2022 and 2023 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. It requires many large industrial facilities to send detailed greenhouse‑gas data to Environment and Climate Change Canada through the ECCC Single Window by June 1, 2023 (for 2022 data) and June 3, 2024 (for 2023 data).

What it does#

• Requires any facility that emits 10 000 tonnes of CO2‑equivalent or more in 2022 or 2023 to report annual GHG information.
  • First calculation excludes CO2 from biomass combustion and biomass decomposition when deciding the threshold.
• Specifies which gases and source categories to report (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6) and asks for breakdowns by source (combustion, industrial processes, venting, flaring, leaks, waste, wastewater, on‑site transport).
• Adds detailed, sector‑specific information requirements for industries such as cement, lime, aluminium, iron & steel, petroleum refining, ammonia, nitric acid, hydrogen, pulp & paper, base metals, electricity generation, mining, ethanol, and facilities involved in CO2 capture/transport/injection/storage.
• Requires submission through the ECCC Single Window system and a signed Statement of Certification from an authorized officer.
• Requires records (data, calculations, measurements) to be kept at the facility or at a Canadian parent company for three years.
• Allows firms to request confidentiality for submitted information, but the minister may still publish or disclose data. The minister intends to publish emission totals by gas and by source category per facility.
• Notes enforcement: failing to comply or providing false information can lead to fines (up to $25,000 for an individual on summary conviction and up to $500,000 for a corporation on indictment; higher for repeat offences).

Who's affected#

• Operators of facilities whose emissions meet or exceed 10 000 tonnes CO2‑equivalent in 2022 or 2023.
• Specific industrial sectors explicitly named in the notice, including but not limited to: cement, lime, aluminium, iron and steel, petroleum refineries, ammonia and nitric acid production, hydrogen production, pulp and paper, base metals, electricity and heat generation, mining, ethanol producers, and CO2 capture/transport/injection/storage operators.
• Facilities already covered by provincial reporting rules or the federal Output‑Based Pricing System — they still must meet these GHGRP reporting requirements, though some methods may align.
• If it’s unclear whether a particular facility meets the threshold, the operator must determine that using the notice’s calculation rules and notify the minister if the facility no longer meets the criteria.

Why it matters#

• Businesses that meet the threshold must gather more detailed data, keep records, and meet fixed deadlines — this can require extra measurement, staff time or consulting help.
• The results feed Canada’s national greenhouse‑gas inventory and policymaking. Published per‑facility numbers increase public transparency about emissions.
• The data can influence future regulations, compliance obligations and public or investor scrutiny of large emitters.
• Non‑compliance carries financial penalties, so affected operators have a legal and financial incentive to report accurately and on time.