2020 Mandatory GHG Reporting for Facilities

Summary#

This is a government notice from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that asks large facilities to report their greenhouse gas emissions for the 2020 calendar year. Facilities that emitted 10 000 tonnes CO2‑equivalent or more in 2020 had to submit their data by June 1, 2021 through the ECCC Single Window system.

What it does#

• Requires operators of facilities that meet the reporting rules to send detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) information for the 2020 calendar year by June 1, 2021.
• Sets the reporting threshold at 10 000 tonnes of CO2‑equivalent emissions in 2020. Facilities at or above that level must report.
• Lists the greenhouse gases covered (examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and several hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons).
• Requires more detailed, specific data and methods from certain industries, such as:
  • cement and lime producers
  • aluminium and iron and steel makers
  • electricity and heat generators
  • ammonia, nitric acid and hydrogen producers
  • petroleum refineries, pulp and paper, ethanol and base‑metal producers
  • facilities involved in CO2 capture, transport, injection or storage
• Says data must be submitted through the ECCC Single Window and that records, calculations and supporting data must be kept for 3 years at the facility or at the facility’s Canadian parent company (if applicable).
• Allows companies to request confidential treatment of submitted information, but the Minister may still disclose it.
• Notes legal consequences for non‑compliance, including fines (see Who's affected).

Who's affected#

• Operators of facilities in Canada that emitted 10 000 tonnes CO2‑equivalent or more in 2020.
• Specific sectors that must provide more detailed information include cement, lime, aluminium, iron and steel, electricity generation, ammonia, nitric acid, hydrogen, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, ethanol, base metals, mining (except oil and gas), and facilities doing CO2 capture/transport/injection/storage.
• Pipeline systems and offshore installations are included where they meet the threshold.
• If it is unclear whether a particular facility meets the rules, the notice requires operators to determine and report whether they meet the criteria; the notice itself lists the precise activities and NAICS industry codes that are covered.

Why it matters#

• The data collected feed Canada’s national GHG inventory and help governments check where emissions come from. Environment and Climate Change Canada intends to publish emission totals by gas for each facility that reports.
• The requirement increases transparency about large industrial emitters and provides standardized, comparable data across provinces and sectors.
• For businesses, it means extra reporting work, record‑keeping and possible exposure if the public or regulators use the published data in policy making or enforcement.
• There are penalties for failing to comply. Fines mentioned in the notice can be up to $25,000 for an individual (summary conviction) and up to $500,000 for a corporation (on indictment), with higher fines for repeat offences.