Future improvements

The data and methods used to develop the greenhouse gas emissions indicator described in this document are considered to be the best available at this time (Environment Canada, 2005).  Annex I Parties are required to continuously improve the quality of their national greenhouse gas inventory. As new information and data become available, and more accurate methods developed, previous estimates are updated to provide a consistent and comparable trend in emissions. Although more accurate methods are sometimes available, the lack of necessary activity data often limits the use of these methods. Some of the initiatives planned to improve data availability are outlined below.

Mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting

Mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting was established in 2004, the result of an ongoing collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments to develop a harmonized system of greenhouse gas emissions reporting. The reporting system is being implemented in phases, with the first phase requiring facilities emitting 100 kilotonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to report their 2004 emissions. This information may be used as an additional source of data for future emission estimations.

Statistics Canada greenhouse gas emissions account

In later CESI reports, the indicator analysis will be complemented with data and analysis from Statistics Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions account. This account borrows heavily from the National Inventory Report, but is produced following the concepts of the System of National Accounts (SNA), as opposed to the methodology required by the IPCC. As such, the Statistics Canada emissions account can be linked directly to the detailed economic data of the SNA. In particular, this linkage permits use of Statistics Canada’s national input–output accounts to analyze emission intensities of industrial sectors and to study the indirect emissions linked to intermediate use of goods. This account produces highly detailed sectoral emission estimates for 122 industries.

Household environment survey