2017 greenhouse gas emissions saw 1.2 percent increase

VICTORIA– The province released the annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions numbers for 2017 and they showed a 1.2 percent increase from 2016-2017.

BC saw 64.5 million tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) after accounting for one million tonnes of carbon offsets from forest management projects, net emissions were 63.5 Mt CO2e. Emissions in 2017 were back up to 2007 levels when 64.8 MT of CO2e was emitted.

Emissions fell in the petroleum and refining industries, oil and gas extraction, afforestation and deforestation, road transport, public electricity and heat production, industrial processes and product use, and waste, among others. Sectors that saw an increase were the manufacturing industry, off-road transport, residential and agriculture.

The province improved its economic performance while reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced for every million dollars of gross domestic product (GDP.) In 2017, 251 tonnes of CO2e were produced for every million dollars of GDP, a 2.5 percent reduction from 2016 levels and a 19.6 percent improvement since 2007.