P.E.I. climate emissions up slightly in 2021 after 2020 dip
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — When checked out with a magnifying glass, P.E.I.’s local weather emissions rose barely in 2021 when in comparison with 2020.
Based on the federal authorities’s nationwide stock report on greenhouse gases, the province emitted 1,627 kilotonnes in 2021, up about three per cent from the 1,582 kilotonnes emitted in 2020.
The 2021 numbers, launched on April 14, are the newest knowledge obtainable on greenhouse gasoline emissions in Canada.
P.E.I.’s emissions, like these of the remainder of Canada, dropped in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic floor a lot of the financial system to a halt and elevated telecommuting in lots of workplaces.
However regardless of a spotlight of the P.E.I. authorities on emissions discount coverage lately, the province has been polluting at roughly the identical price of 1.6 megatonnes, or roughly 1,600 kilotonnes of emissions, yearly between 2021 and 2016.
Whereas the figures are two years outdated, they might point out the Dennis King Progressive Conservatives haven’t made measurable modifications in chopping local weather emissions. Early in King’s first time period in authorities, he adopted a purpose of chopping emissions to 1.2 megatonnes, by 2030.
“We additionally hope to see this lower in transportation emissions proceed with our public transit investments and additional uptake in electrical automobile use, assisted by the province’s electrical automobile rebates.” – Katie MacDonald
There may be some excellent news regardless of the flatlining of the province’s emissions. In an e-mail, Katie MacDonald, communications consultant with the Division of Surroundings, Power and Local weather Motion, stated emissions haven’t elevated lately regardless of a rising inhabitants and a fast-growing financial system.
“P.E.I.’s per capita emissions have been 9.8 tonnes per particular person – the bottom they’ve been within the final 30 years. Trying on the longer time sequence, our emissions proceed to be considerably decrease than they have been in 2005 (after they have been at 1.899 megatonnes),” MacDonald wrote within the e-mail.
Transportation emissions down
Emissions from vehicles and vans account for the largest share of P.E.I.’s emissions, adopted by agriculture, heating of buildings and houses, business and waste.
Within the e-mail, MacDonald stated the division believes it’s best to check the 2021 transportation emissions to 2019, because of the pandemic’s influence on transportation in 2020.
Total, transportation emissions did drop by 60 kilotonnes between 2019 and 2021, a couple of seven per cent lower. This was largely resulting from decreased emissions from aviation and from emissions from vehicles.
“We additionally hope to see this lower in transportation emissions proceed with our public transit investments and additional uptake in electrical automobile use, assisted by the province’s electrical automobile rebates,” MacDonald stated within the e-mail.
The reductions in emissions from transportation have been partially offset by elevated emissions from light-duty vans, which rose by 5 per cent between 2019 and 2021.
The yr 2021 additionally noticed a discount in emissions from buildings, together with a couple of 16 per cent discount in emissions associated to the usage of fossil fuels for house heating.
The province has provided vital incentives to householders to assist defray the prices of warmth pump set up, in addition to different packages to defray the price of improved insulation and sizzling water heaters.
Canadian decline
P.E.I.’s local weather emissions account for a really small share of Canada’s local weather emissions.
In 2021, the nation’s complete greenhouse gasoline emissions amounted to 670 megatonnes, up 1.8 per cent from 2020 however down 7.5 per cent from the pre-pandemic yr of 2019.
Canada’s local weather purpose is to scale back emissions by 40 to 45 per cent beneath 2005 ranges by 2030.
During the last 16 years, the nation has decreased emissions by 8.4 per cent.
Alberta and Ontario are the 2 provinces that had the most important emissions in 2021. Whereas Ontario’s emissions have decreased since 2005, Alberta’s emissions have elevated since then.
Stu Neatby is a political reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @stu_neatby.
