What is Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)?
The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) is a mandatory program for facilities in Canada that emit 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year. Even small and medium-sized businesses operating facilities that meet this threshold must report their emissions annually to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Single Window System.
Reporting Criteria
- Threshold: Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year
- Gases Covered: CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6, and NF3
- Reporting Deadline: Typically, June 1st of the following year
Facilities must use standardized methods for calculating emissions, as outlined in Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Quantification Requirements. This includes using specific emission factors and calculation methodologies for different sources of emissions.
- Technical Guidance: ECCC provides detailed technical guidance documents to help businesses understand and comply with reporting requirements.
- Single Window System: An online platform for submitting GHG reports, which streamlines reporting to both federal and provincial authorities.
Are there any provincial reporting requirements in Canada?
Yes, eight provinces have additional reporting requirements that may apply to small and medium-sized businesses:
| Province | Reporting Threshold |
| Alberta
Specified Gas Reporting Regulation https://www.alberta.ca/specified-gas-reporting-regulation Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation https://www.alberta.ca/technology-innovation-and-emissions-reduction-regulation |
Facilities emitting 50,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
| British Columbia
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulation https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/249_2015 Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/14029_01 |
Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
| New Brunswick
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulation – Climate Change Act |
Facilities emitting 10,000 to 50,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
| Newfoundland & Labrador Management of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Regulationshttps://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/regulations/rc170014.htm |
Facilities emitting 15,000 or more tonnes of CO2e per year |
| Nova Scotia
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations https://www.canlii.org/en/ns/laws/regu/ns-reg-260-2009/latest/ns-reg-260-2009.html Output-Based Pricing System Reporting and Compliance Regulations https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/envoutputcompliance.htm |
Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes of CO2e per year |
| Ontario
O.Reg. 390/18 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Quantification, Reporting and Verification https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/180390 O.Reg. 241/19 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Standards |
Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
| Quebec
Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere https://www.canlii.org/en/qc/laws/regu/cqlr-c-q-2-r-15/latest/cqlr-c-q-2-r-15.html |
Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
| Saskatchewan
The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Reporting and General) Regulations, 2025 https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/127315 Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations, 2023 |
Facilities emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year |
What types of facilities produce more than 10,000 tonnes of CO2e per year?
Here are a few examples of the types of facilities that generate 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e per year:
| Manufacturing facilities | Large manufacturing plants, especially those involved in heavy industries like steel, cement, and chemicals, can easily exceed this threshold. For instance, a medium-sized cement plant can emit around 500,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. |
| Power plants | A small to medium-sized natural gas power plant can emit around 100,000 tonnes of CO2e per year. Even smaller power plants, depending on their efficiency and fuel type, can reach the 10,000 tonnes threshold. |
| Transportation fleets | A large logistics company with a fleet of hundreds of trucks can generate significant emissions. For example, a fleet of 200 heavy-duty diesel trucks can emit approximately 10,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. |
| Commercial buildings | Large commercial buildings, such as office towers or shopping malls, can also reach this level of emissions. A single large office building with high energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting can emit around 10,000 tonnes of CO2e per year. |
| Agricultural operations | Large-scale agricultural operations, particularly those involving livestock, can produce substantial emissions. For example, a large dairy farm with thousands of cattle can emit over 10,000 tonnes of CO2e annually due to methane emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management. |
My company doesn’t meet these reporting requirements. Why should I report GHG emissions?
Even if a small business does not meet the mandatory reporting threshold, it can still benefit from reporting GHG emissions. There are several reasons why a small business might choose to do so:
| Supply chain requirements | Many larger companies are increasingly requiring their suppliers to report GHG emissions as part of their sustainability initiatives. This is often part of broader efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of their entire supply chain. |
| Market differentiation | By reporting and actively reducing emissions, small businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors. This can be a valuable marketing tool, especially in industries where sustainability is a key concern for consumers. |
| Regulatory preparedness | While not currently mandatory for all small businesses, being proactive in monitoring and reporting emissions can prepare a business for potential future regulations. It also helps in identifying opportunities for cost savings through energy efficiency and other emission reduction strategies. |
| Investor and stakeholder expectations | Investors and other stakeholders are increasingly looking for transparency in environmental practices. Reporting emissions can meet these expectations and potentially attract investment from those prioritizing sustainability. |
Where can I find more information about Canadian federal and provincial GHG reporting requirements?
Canada – Greenhouse Gas Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Questions and Answers
Canada – Technical Guidance on Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Jan 2023 https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2023/eccc/En81-29-2023-eng.pdf
British Columbia – Reporting Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions, updated Jan 2025
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/industry/reporting
New Brunswick – The Reporting and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard, August 2022. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/env/pdf/Climate-Climatiques/the-reporting-and-reduction-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-standard-august-2022.pdf
Ontario – Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Quantification, Reporting and Verification, July 2018. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r18390
Manitoba – The Climate and Green Plan Act. https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/41-3/pdf/b016r.pdf
