BY THE NUMBERS
❚ Carbon emissions intensity reduction, for industrial facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year: 2015: 12-per-cent emission reduction below set baseline (unchanged) Jan. 1, 2016: 15-per-cent reduction below set baseline Jan. 1, 2017: 20-per-cent reduction below set baseline Overall: Increase in the intensity reduction target by 66 per cent If companies succeed in reducing their emissions even more, they can save the extra admissions to count in the following years, or can sell the extras to other companies.
❚ Carbon levy, to be paid if carbon emissions aren’t reduced in intensity: 2015: $15 per tonne of carbon for every tonne emitted over and above the targeted decrease Jan. 1, 2016: $20 per tonne of carbon Jan. 1, 2017: $30 per tonne of carbon Overall: A doubling of the levy
❚ If industries actually reduced greenhouse gas emissions: 8 million: Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents that won’t go into the atmosphere in 2015 1 million: Tonnes of additional carbon dioxide equivalent that won’t go into the atmosphere in 2016 due to a three-per-cent emission reduction 5 million: Tonnes of additional carbon dioxide equivalent that won’t go into the atmosphere in 2017 due to an eight-per-cent
emission reduction from today
❚ If industries choose to pay levies over actual emissions: $170 million: Estimated amount that would go into the province’s Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund as of 2017
❚ If companies don’t comply by either reducing their emissions or paying levies to offset their carbon emissions, they face: $200 per tonne penalty. No companies have been fined in the history of the emissions act, which was launched in 2007.
❚ Between 2007 and 2014, the province has seen: 36.85 million tonnes: of avoided emissions at facilities 24.34 million tonnes: of voluntary offset credits, where facilities went beyond the emission target $577.9 million: in payments to the climate change fund, equivalent to 38.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
❚ If companies fail to report their emissions by March 31 each year, fines range from $1,000 to $7,500.
❚ Alberta’s largest emitters (2014): Coal power: Seven Alberta coal power plants emit almost 41 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent Oilsands, mines and upgraders: Five such facilities emit close to 30.5 million tonnes. Oilsands, in situ: 17 such facilities emit 28.4 million tonnes. Chemical plants: 10 sites emit 7.9 million tonnes. Gas plants: 29 plants emit almost six million tonnes.
❚ Other emitters include fertilizer plants, forestry product sits, pipelines and one landfill in west Edmonton that emits 111,510 tonnes. 103: Total number of Alberta industrial sites that emit more than 100,000 tonnes each year Altogether, they emit 135 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. That is 45 per cent of Alberta’s total emissions of 267 million tonnes. The rest is caused by industries that emit less than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, agriculture, waste and individuals who heat their homes and drive vehicles.