Measure, Understand, and Reduce your GHG Emissions

This toolkit helps Canadian organizations understand greenhouse gases (GHGs), collect and interpret GHG data, calculate a robust GHG baseline, and design practical GHG emission reduction strategies. It connects core concepts like the greenhouse effect, climate change, global warming potential (GWP), carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), and GHG accounting to real-world actions that support net-zero goals.

Calculating GHG Baseline

Calculating Scope 1 Emissions

What are Scope 1 emissions?

Scope 1 emissions include emissions from sources directly owned or controlled by the reporting company. These include:

Emissions from on-site fossil fuel combustion for heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, manufacturing, or energy production.
Emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles owned or controlled by the reporting company.
Fugitive emissions (leaks) of refrigerant gases from on-site refrigeration and air conditioning units.
Emissions released during any on-site manufacturing chemical processes.
Emissions from agricultural activities owned or controlled by the reporting company.

Example calculation (stationary sources of emissions)

F&M is a manufacturing facility with two ten-megawatt electricity generators. One generator burns natural gas, and the other is fueled by coal. F&M also has a commercial office building on-site that is heated with diesel.

Last year, the company consumed 20,000,000 cubic meters of natural gas and 40,000 tonnes of coal in the generating units.

F&M also began the year with 41,900 litres of diesel in storage and ended the year with 6,000 litres in storage; it combusted the rest of the diesel.

Calculate the company’s total GHG emissions.

Step 1: Calculate annual diesel consumption

Start of year diesel in storage = 41,900 litres
End of year diesel in storage = 6,000 litres
Rest was combusted.

Diesel consumption = diesel stock at start of year – diesel stock at end of year

= 41,900 litres – 6,000 litres = 35,900 litres

Step 2: Calculate CO2 emissions for each fuel using the respective emission factor

Fuel A CO2 emissions = Fuel Consumed × Emission Factor ÷ 1,000

Assume the following emission factors:

Natural gas: 1.9141 kg CO2 / cubic meter
Coal: 2,274.69 kg CO2 / tonne
Diesel: 2.6533 kg CO2 / litre

Natural gas CO2 emissions

20,000,000 cubic meters

1.9141

kg CO2 / cubic meter

1,000 kg / tonne

38,282 tonnes

Coal CO2 emissions

40,000

tonnes

2,274.69

kg CO2 / tonne

1,000 kg / tonne

90,987.6 tonnes

Diesel CO2 emissions

35,900 litres

2.6533

kg CO2 / litre

1,000 kg / tonne

95.25

tonnes

Step 3: Sum CO2 emissions for each fuel

Total CO2e = 38,282 tonnes + 90,987.6 tonnes + 95.25 tonnes

= 129,364.85 tonnes

Reconnaissance des terres

Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.

Land Acknowledgment

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.

This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.

We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.

As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.

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Measure, Understand, and Reduce your GHG Emissions

What are Scope 1 emissions?

Example calculation (stationary sources of emissions)

Funded in part by

Reconnaissance des terres

Land Acknowledgment

Site en cours de développement

Website in Development