Ecojustice and Environmental Defence expressed concerns about Canada's climate commitments following new data revealing that greenhouse gas emissions from exported oil, gas, and coal exceeded one billion tonnes in 2023, surpassing the country’s domestic emissions for the first time.
The groups obtained the data through a petition to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, which showed a 58 percent increase in exported emissions since 2012.
In 2023, exported fossil fuel emissions reached 1,030 million tonnes of CO2, far exceeding Canada’s domestic emissions of 702 million tonnes. This surge is attributed to record-breaking oil exports and significant coal shipments, alongside approvals for new fossil fuel projects, including LNG developments in British Columbia.
The data’s release comes as Canada participates in COP29, a global climate summit. At COP28 last year, Canada committed to capping emissions and transitioning to renewable energy. However, these findings highlight a continued increase in fossil fuel exports, raising questions about Canada’s climate credibility.
“Canada’s emissions are not confined within our borders – nor are their impacts,” said Reid Gomme, a staff lawyer at Ecojustice. “They come back to haunt us in the form of climate catastrophes, extreme weather events, rising costs of living, and dangerous health consequences. To be a true leader on the world stage, we must own and address our entire emissions profile — both domestic and exported.”
Domestic progress on emissions reduction has been modest compared to the rise in exported emissions. While Canada’s domestic emissions have decreased by 42 million tonnes since 2012, exported emissions have grown by 378 million tonnes during the same period. Critics argued this disparity undermines efforts to combat climate change at home.
Julia Levin, associate director of national climate at Environmental Defence, emphasized the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels. “Fossil fuels are causing unnatural climate disasters that are impacting communities across Canada and around the planet. Words need to turn into action, and governments in Canada must get serious about moving off fossil fuels.”
The federal government’s draft regulations to cap oil and gas pollution are seen as a step forward, but advocates stressed the need to address emissions tied to exports. Under the Paris Agreement, Canada is not required to report exported emissions, but calls for accountability are growing.
Experts warned that exported emissions contribute to rising global temperatures and extreme weather events that also affect Canadians, including heatwaves, floods, and wildfires. Meeting global climate goals, they argued, will require Canada to align its policies with a rapid transition to renewable energy and a global push toward net-zero emissions by 2050.