Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Every year the City tracks the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by activities within Ottawa's boundaries and from municipal operations. Everyday activities such as heating our homes, moving around the city and treating our solid waste and wastewater can all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

The City undertakes two types of greenhouse gas emission inventories:

• Community inventories – emissions associated with people who live within the city of Ottawa. Includes emissions from buildings, transportation, waste and agriculture.
• Corporate inventories – emissions associated with the City’s operations. Includes emissions from facilities, fleet, solid waste and wastewater treatment.

Community Emissions

2020 community greenhouse gas emissions by sector:

• Agriculture – 3 per cent
• Buildings – 46 per cent
• Transportation – 42 per cent
• Waste – 9 per cent

2020 community greenhouse gas emissions by source:

• Agriculture – 3 per cent
• Electricity – 4 per cent
• Natural gas – 38 per cent
• Propane – 2 per cent
• Heating oil – 1 per cent
• Wood – 1 per cent
• Gasoline – 21 per cent
• Diesel – 12 per cent
• Aviation fuel – 9 per cent
• Waste – 9 per cent

Corporate emissions

2020 corporate greenhouse gas emissions by sector:

• Wastewater treatment – 6 per cent
• Facilities – 22 per cent
• Transit fleet – 44 per cent
• Municipal fleet – 13 per cent
• Police fleet – 2 per cent
• Solid waste – 13 per cent

2020 corporate greenhouse gas emissions by source:

• Wastewater treatment – 6 per cent
• Electricity – 4 per cent
• Natural gas – 18 per cent
• Gasoline – 8 per cent
• Diesel – 51 per cent
• Solid waste – 13 per cent

Key findings from the 2020 emissions inventories

Community emissions:

• Community emissions decreased 15 per cent between 2012 and 2020. In order to meet Ottawa’s short and mid-term targets, the community will need to reduce emissions by five to six per cent a year over the next five to ten years.
• The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in reducing emissions, including a 30 per cent drop in gasoline use between 2019 and 2020.
• Roughly 90 per cent of community emissions come from the building and transportation sectors, with the other 10 per cent coming from waste and agriculture sectors.
• Natural gas consumption was the largest source of community emissions, accounting for 38 per cent. Gasoline contributed 21 per cent and diesel 12 per cent.

Corporate emissions:

• Corporate emissions decreased 43 per cent between 2012 and 2020. This puts the City ahead of its short-term target to reduce emissions 30 per cent below 2012 baseline by 2025. The decrease is mostly due to landfill gas capture efficiencies at the Trail Road Waste Facility.
• Transit fleet was the largest emitting sector, accounting for 44 per cent of total corporate emissions.
• Diesel consumption was the largest source of emissions, accounting for 51 per cent of total corporate emissions.

Read more about Ottawa’s greenhouse gas emission inventories:

• 2020 Community and Corporate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories
• 2019 Community and Corporate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories 
• 2017 and 2018 Community and Corporate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories [ 603 KB ]

For more information, please contact climatechange@ottawa.ca