Almost 40 per cent of all greenhouse gases (GHG) pumped into the atmosphere by Canada in 2005 were produced by industries in Alberta, according to a new study.
The sutdy was put together by two Toronto-based conservation groups, Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
Based on an analysis of pollution data filed by companies to Environment Canada, the study found that Alberta businesses led the provinces in GHG emissions.
The oil-rich province was well ahead of second-place Ontario, whose industries released 28 per cent of the nation's climate warming gases.
When it comes to a company-by-company breakdown, Alberta was also in the lead, with seven of the nation's 10 biggest polluters calling the oil-rich western province home.
The list includes plants run by Syncrude Canada Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc., as well as five generating stations powered by fossil fuels.
Ontario has two of the Top 10. The Ontario Power Generation station in Nanticoke is one; it has the dubious position of being Canada's largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions. And the Lambton OPG plant is the other; it's ranked at No 5.
Both plants burn coal to produce electricity. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has vowed to eliminate the polluting plants.
Aaron Freeman, policy director at the Toronto-based Environmental Defence conservation group, said Alberta's lead is likely to increase in coming years as the result of oil sands developments slated for construction and Ontario's promise to shut down coal-plants.
The study also found the following:
- In 2005, Alberta's industries led the country in releasing conventional air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particle pollution;
- Saskatchewan -- a province that relies heavily on coal to produce electricity -- released more GHGs in 2005 than all the businesses in Quebec -- a province with a population almost seven times as large;
- About half of Canada's GHG emissions are released by industries -- and environmental groups are pushing the government to crack down on those releases by passing tougher regulations.
All major companies in Canada are required to file emissions data with Environment Canada each year, showing how much pollution they release.
Joe Castrilli, counsel to the Canadian Environmental Law Association says the study is proof that Canada needs better pollution prevention legislation.
"Federal and provincial governments must set mandatory reduction targets for toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases," he said in a statement.
The Conservative government has essentially abandoned the Kyoto Protocol target for Canada -- a six- per-cent cut in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2012. Instead, Environment Minister John Baird has spoken about implementing intensity-based targets that would increase energy efficiency per unit, but put no cap on total emissions.
Earlier this year, B.C.'s Liberal government announced a plan to cut GHG emissions by 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
