Archived: Technical guidance on reporting greenhouse gas emissions: chapter 2

2. Reporting Criteria

2.1 Reporting Threshold

The reporting threshold under the current greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements is 50 kilotonnes (kt) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂ eq). A facility is subject to the reporting requirements if its total direct emissions of GHGs meet or exceed the reporting threshold. To complete this assessment, it is necessary for a facility to calculate its total emissions for the relevant calendar year for the GHGs and emission sources covered. Total emissions are calculated as the sum total mass of each of the gases or gas species multiplied by their respective global warming potential (GWP) (see Equation 1).

Emissions of individual species of hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) must be quantified separately and then multiplied by their GWPs. Only the emissions of HFCs, PFCs and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) that fall within the definitions of industrial processes and industrial product use must be included in the calculations (see Section 4.3).

CO₂ emissions from biomass materials, as further discussed in Section 3.3, must not be included in the threshold calculation. However, if a report is required, CO₂ emissions from biomass combustion must be quantified and reported separately as part of the reportable GHG information (see Section 4). Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from biomass-related sources must be included in the reporting threshold calculation and reported as part of the GHG emission totals, if a report is required.

Equation 1

where:

E = total emissions of a particular gas or gas species from the facility (tonnes);

GWP = global warming potential of the same gas or gas species (see Section 2.2);

i = each emission source.

2.2 Greenhouse Gases Subject to Reporting

The GHGs that are subject to mandatory reporting are listed in Table 1. The GWP and Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CAS Number) for each of these GHGs are also listed in the table. The GWPs listed in Table 1 are updated values taken from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, stemming from improvements in climate change science. These updated GWP values were applied starting with the reporting of 2013 data under the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Program (GHGRP) and will continue into future years. For years prior to 2013, facilities should refer to the Canada Gazette notices previously published for the list of GWP values to use in determining if they meet the reporting requirements.

Table 1a: Greenhouse Gases and Gas Species Subject to Mandatory Reporting

Table 1b: Greenhouse Gases and Gas Species Subject to Mandatory Reporting, Hydrofluorocarbons

Table 1c: Greenhouse Gases and Gas Species Subject to Mandatory Reporting, Perfluorocarbons