Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Country, OECD countries, 2014

Source: CICH tabled created using data adapted from OECD. Greenhouse gas emissions by source. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/data/oecd-environment-statistics/greenhouse-gas-emissions_data-00594-en?isPartOf=/content/datacollection/env-data-en – accessed February 15, 2017.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in 2014, Canada had the fourth highest level of greenhouse gas emissions of 35 OECD countries.1 The United States had the highest greenhouse gas emissions and Iceland had the lowest emissions.

Canada’s high emissions are due to a number of factors. The climate is variable – so Canadians use space heating and cooling to stay comfortable.2

Canada is a large country with its population dispersed throughout, meaning Canadians spend more time traveling and have a greater demand for freight transportation of goods.2

Canada’s economy is based on natural resources, including agricultural products, electricity, oil, gas, and metals. Accessing these resources leads to considerable greenhouse gas emissions.2

1OECD. Greenhouse gas emissions by source. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/data/oecd-environment-statistics/greenhouse-gas-emissions_data-00594-en?isPartOf=/content/datacollection/env-data-en– accessed February 15, 2017.
2Government of Canada. Canada’s Sixth National Report on Climate Change. 2014. http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/456520/publication.html-accessed July 2017.