Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about what you have read here? Chances are someone else has asked them as well. Please look here for answers to some frequently asked questions about agriculture-based greenhouse gas emissions. And if you don’t find the answer, then please contact us at simpsoninfo@ucalgary.ca.

Canada’s total GHG emissions in 2019 were 730 mega tonnes CO₂ equivalent (CO₂eq). But what does this mean?

Climate change is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The major greenhouse gas emitted by human activity in Canada is carbon dioxide or CO₂ (80 per cent of the total), with six other gases also included. The other gases are expressed as “CO₂ equivalents” so they are translated into the same measuring tool – CO₂ molecules.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e or CO₂eq) is used to compare emissions from different greenhouse gas sources based on the gas's 100-year global warming potential. CH₄ and N₂O have a carbon dioxide equivalency of 25 and 298, respectively, meaning that 1 tonne of CH₄emitted has the global warming potential equivalent of emitting 25 tonnes of CO₂. The measured amount of methane is multiplied by a factor of 25 to show how much it contributes to the total emissions for Canada. Methane (CH₄) contributed about 13 per cent of Canada’s total GHG emissions in 2019, with nitrous oxide (N₂O) contributing about 6 per cent of the total. These two gases are important contributors in the agriculture sector when separated out: Canada’s 2019 emissions from crop and animal production were 59 Mt CO₂eq, with methane contributing 47 per cent of this figure in 2019, while nitrous oxide made up 49 per cent of the total.

These emissions are estimated for the entire year. As our activities change, emissions will change over time.

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. “National Inventory Report 1990-2019: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada, Canada’s Submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Part 3.” https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.506002/publication.html

Emissions attributed to agriculture can be grouped into three broad categories: Animal/livestock Production, Crop Production, and On-Farm Fuel Use. Emission sources can be further broken down within each category.

Animal/livestock production comprises of two sources, Enteric Fermentation and Manure Management. Enteric fermentation is a biological process that occurs in the digestive system of ruminant animals such as cattle and sheep, with the majority of the produced gas belched out by the animals (yes, cow burps); it produces methane (CH₄) and is the largest single source of agricultural emissions in Canada. Manure Management accounts for the emissions generated during the storage, handling, and decomposition of livestock manure. During the decomposition process, both CH₄ and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are produced.

Emissions from crop production originate from applying organic and inorganic nitrogen and carbon-containing fertilizers, the cultivation of organic soils, and the prescribed burning of fields (the latter is uncommon in Canada). Organic fertilizer refers to both manure from livestock, and human waste referred to as biosolids, while inorganic fertilizer is a manufactured and purchased product. Crop production emits all three major greenhouse gasses: carbon dioxide (CO₂)_,N₂O, and CH₄.

Lastly, On-Farm Fuel use accounts for the emissions produced by farm machinery and activities such as the heating and cooling of structures and grain drying. CO₂ is the primary greenhouse gas emitted with fuel use, when natural gas, diesel or gasoline is combusted.

Within Canada's official measurements, emissions from land use, the production of farm inputs, and the processing of food and feed are not attributed to agricultural emissions. They are counted, but you will find them in other categories.

Under Canada's official measurements, total annual emissions in Canada have increased by 1 Mt of CO₂eq since 2005 and 15 Mt CO₂eq since 1990, reaching the current national emissions level of 730 Mt CO₂eq in 2019. Emissions from animal/livestock production peaked in 2005 at 44 Mt CO₂eq per year and have since decreased to 36 Mt CO₂eq per year. Emissions from crop production have grown by 50 per cent since 2005 (60 per cent since 1990) and has reached 24 Mt CO₂eq. Emissions from on-farm fuel use have increased at a slower rate, increasing by 16.7% since 2005 to 14 Mt CO₂eq.

Within Alberta, agricultural emissions have followed a similar path as the national level and have decreased by 1.7 Mt CO₂eq since 2005 to reach 21 Mt CO₂eq. Emissions from animal production decreased by 21.7% from 15.2 Mt CO₂eq in 2005 to 11.9 Mt CO₂eq in 2019. Emissions from crop production have increased by 1.9 Mt CO₂eq from 4.0 to 5.9 Mt CO₂eq from 2005 to 2019. Emissions from on-farm fuel use has decreased by 0.2 Mt CO₂eq since 2005, decreasing from 3.5 to 3.3 Mt CO₂eq.

Note: The above numbers are shown in IPCC category methodology, published in the latest National Inventory Report; Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. “National Inventory Report 1990-2019: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada, Canada’s Submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Part 3.” https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.506002/publication.html

Agriculture is the 5^th largest source of GHG emissions at the national level and comprises 10% of Canada's total emissions. The share of total emissions has remained relatively unchanged since 2005, increasing slightly from 9.7%.

The table below provides the share of emissions at the provincial level:

Alberta Total Annual GHG Emissions, by IPCC Category

	Alberta Total Annual GHG Emissions	Stationary Combustion Sources - Energy	Fugitive Sources - Energy	Transport - Energy	Industrial Processes and Product Use	Agriculture	Waste
Amounts, Mt CO2 eq
2005	235.5	130.1	36.9	34.0	11.6	19.2	3.8
2019	275.8	159.6	33.2	46.2	13.9	17.8	5.2

Percent of Total
2005	100%	55%	16%	14%	4.9%	8.1%	1.6%
2019	100%	58%	12%	17%	5.0%	6.4%	1.9%

Alberta is the largest emitter of agricultural-based greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for approximately 28.8% of Canada's total ag emissions. It is followed by Saskatchewan 25.2%, Ontario 16.6%, and Quebec 12.1%. This makes sense since the province is home to 41% of the national cattle herd and has the second most agricultural land in use, 28.5% of national total.

While absolute emissions are high within Alberta, the province generally emits at a lower intensity than other provinces. For example, emissions per hectare of agricultural land is the second lowest in Canada with Ontario and Quebec emitting at a rate of 127%, and 251% higher than in Alberta. By viewing emissions both in absolute and relative terms, we can better understand production practices and a more complete picture of emissions within the province.

Canada's national emissions estimates follow the methodology proposed in the 2006 IPCC guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and specific Canadian methodologies presented in the National Inventory Report. While these methodologies can become complex, in its simplest, the amount of activity that produces the emissions (activity data) is multiplied by the emissions per unit of activity (emission factor). For example, in the case of enteric fermentation for cattle, the cattle population is multiplied by the amount of emissions produced by each head of cattle. The emission factor itself is based on the average cattle weight, age, activity, and environment for the region in question. Emission factors are specific to the source of emissions and the greenhouse gas produced.