Summary
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Details
Deep dive
Introduction
Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), launched in 2004 and managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is a major part of the nation’s efforts to monitor and reduce industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The program was established under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and builds on earlier, less comprehensive reporting initiatives, such as voluntary climate change plans in the 1990s. The GHGRP was designed to provide credible, standardized data to inform climate policies, including Canada’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. Over time, it has evolved to align with international reporting standards and now serves as a key tool for federal and provincial climate strategies.
Emissions reporting requirements
Under the GHGRP, facilities in Canada emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) annually must submit detailed emissions reports by June 1 of each year, providing data from the previous calendar year, e.g. emissions reports for the year 2024 are due by 1 June 2025. Reports are submitted electronically via the Single Window Reporting System, and the data is later published in Canada’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The reporting requirements include emissions from direct sources (Scope 1), such as fuel combustion and industrial processes, and some indirect emissions (Scope 2) from purchased energy. Facilities must follow the procedures established in ECCC’s Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Reporting, ensuring consistency and comparability across sectors. In addition to the above reporting threshold, facilities engaged in certain activities (among others, mining, ethanol production, cement production) are subject to expanded reporting meaning that they are required to provide additional data and use specific emissions quantification methods given in the program guidelines. Third-party verification of emissions data is not required under GHGRP rules.
Affected entities
The GHGRP applies to a wide range of industrial sectors, including oil and gas production, mining, manufacturing, and electricity generation. For the 2023 calendar year, a total of 1862 facilities reported their GHG emissions to ECCC. Small businesses and facilities below the 10,000-tonne threshold are exempt, though 168 facilities below the emissions threshold voluntarily reported their emissions for 2023. In Canada, some provinces also impose additional reporting requirements with the GHGRP overlapping with provincial systems like Alberta’s TIER Regulation and Quebec’s cap-and-trade program, requiring some facilities to report to both federal and provincial authorities.
Penalties for noncompliance
Noncompliance with the GHGRP can result in significant penalties. All facility operators subject to the greenhouse gas reporting requirements must submit the required information in full. Failure to report, meet deadlines, or provide accurate data may constitute a violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and could result in enforcement measures. Under CEPA, violations of GHGRP provision could result in fines of up to $1million daily, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. ECCC conducts audits and verifications to ensure data accuracy.
