Yesterday, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment issued a
draft greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting regulation that
requires specified facilities (such as electricity generators,
metal manufacturers, petroleum refiners and general stationary
combustion sources) emitting 25,000 tonnes or more per year of
carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to report 2010 emissions in the
year 2011 and annually thereafter. Best alternative quantification
methods may be used for 2011 reporting and standardized mandatory
methods (with third party verification) are required thereafter.
The regulation is intended to obtain accurate emissions data to
inform the development of Ontario's proposed cap-and-trade
system.
Ontario's reporting threshold is more onerous than the federal
government's or Alberta's current mandatory GHG reporting
requirements but aligns with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's mandatory GHG reporting threshold of 25,000 tonnes of
CO2e. However, unlike the U.S. approach, Ontario does not currently
intend to regulate fuel suppliers.
To maximize GHG trading opportunities and minimize the risk of
future border measures, it is critical that Ontario work with the
federal government and other provinces to harmonize Canada's
carbon regime with the emerging U.S. carbon regime. Canada's
federal climate change plan is currently being 'fine-tuned'
and is expected to be released by the federal government before the
UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Comments on Ontario's draft regulation and guideline are due by
November 6, 2009.
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