Question Period Note: Canada’s global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

According to Our World in Data, in 2023, Canada was the 10th highest absolute emitter, the 11th highest per capita emitter in the world and accounted for approximately 1.5% of global GHG emissions. Canada’s climate action can support global efforts to limit warming in the decades ahead. The Government of Canada is working to launch a climate competitiveness strategy as part of Canada’s commitment to fight climate change and position Canada to lead in a global economy that increasingly wants decarbonized goods, services, technology and know-how.

• Reducing GHG emissions is a moral obligation and an economic imperative.
• We are succeeding. Canada’s economy is 34% less carbon-intensive than in 2005—proof we can grow our economy and create jobs while reducing emissions.
• Canada is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious target demands continued action now and is essential to fight climate change and position Canada to compete in the emerging low-carbon economy.
If pressed

• The Government of Canada continues to work with partners to take climate actions to build a clean and strong Canada.
• We will continue to provide regular updates on our progress in reducing emissions and building a net-zero economy by mid-century, including through the 2025 and 2027 Progress Report on the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, and yearly National Inventory Reports.

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act became law in 2021, establishing legal requirements for current and future governments to plan and report on the path to net-zero emissions by or before 2050. Under the Act, the Government must produce regular progress reports on its emissions reduction plans. The next progress report will be published in December 2025.

Note regarding the Our World in Data report: The values below are not directly comparable to Canada’s National Inventory Report but come from a common source and are therefore comparable across countries for ranking purposes.

• Global 12 highest per capita emitters (2023 greenhouse gas emissions, including land-use change, EU separated into individual countries; from Our World in Data)

1. Qatar – 68.5 tonnes (t) CO2 equivalent (eq) per capita
2. Bahrain – 42.7 t CO2 eq per capita
3. Brunei – 37.3 t CO2 eq per capita
4. Trinidad and Tobago – 32.3 t CO2 eq per capita
5. Kuwait – 29.0 t CO2 eq per capita
6. Mongolia – 27.0 t CO2 eq per capita
7. United Arab Emirates – 26.7 t CO2 eq per capita
8. Saudi Arabia – 26.4 t CO2 eq per capita
9. Oman – 24.3 t CO2 eq per capita
10. Australia – 22.0 t CO2 eq per capita
11. Canada – 20.4 t CO2 eq per capita
12. Russia – 18.5 t CO2 eq per capita

• Global 12 highest emitters (2023 greenhouse gas emissions, including land-use change, EU separated into individual countries; from Our World in Data LULUCF)

1. China – 13,969 megatonnes (Mt) CO2 eq
2. United States – 5,895 Mt CO2 eq
3. India – 4,196 Mt CO2 eq
4. Russia – 2,691 Mt CO2 eq
5. Brazil – 2,382 Mt CO2 eq
6. Indonesia – 1,922 Mt CO2 eq
7. Iran – 1,065 Mt CO2 eq
8. Japan – 1,032 Mt CO2 eq
9. Saudi Arabia – 879 Mt CO2 eq
10. Canada – 800 Mt CO2 eq
11. Mexico – 778 Mt CO2 eq
12. Germany – 671 Mt CO2 eq

Non-applicable