A new government report reveals a rise in Canada’s carbon emissions. This increase is primarily attributed to a surge in economic activity following COVID-19 lockdowns.
The National Inventory Report, released by the Department of Environment, shows that greenhouse gas emissions reached 708 million tonnes in 2022, marking a 9.3 million tonne increase from 2021.
Only Alberta and Saskatchewan, provinces that oppose the federal carbon tax policy, exhibited a decrease in annual emissions.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault acknowledges the rise but emphasizes that Canada is making progress towards emission reduction. He urges a collective effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The report suggests that while emissions saw a significant drop due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, they have been steadily climbing since restrictions were lifted. The transport sector, responsible for 196 million tonnes of emissions annually, remains the largest contributor to greenhouse gases.
These findings appear to contradict federal claims that the carbon tax has been an effective tool in emission reduction. The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan, who advocate for alternative emission reduction strategies, have highlighted these results in their opposition to the carbon tax.
