International Comparison: Air Pollutant Emissions 

Canada’s air pollutant emissions are compared with 9 selected industrialized countries (Canada, United-States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Japan, Australia and Sweden) for the years 1999 and 2009. The air pollutant total emissions and ratio of emissions to GDP are provided for sulphur oxides (SO_x), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and ammonia (NH₃).

Overall, most of these countries reduced their total emissions since 1999. The exceptions are Australia, which saw an increase in SO_x, NO_x and VOC emissions, as well as Russia where NO_x and NH₃ emissions increased. Canada ranked 6^th for SO_x emissions, 6^th for NO_x emissions, 5^th for VOC emissions and 7^th for NH₃ emissions in terms of the percentage of emission reduction between 1999 and 2009 levels. In 2009, Canadian emissions decreased respectively by 36%, 19%, 21% and 3% from 1999 levels.

International demand for Canada's natural resources, among the largest of the G8 countries, contributes substantially to Canada's air pollutant emissions, as Canada's industrial sectors extract and use these resources to produce raw material and finished goods destined for the rest of the world.

Sulphur oxides

Although Canada’s sulphur oxide (SO_x) emissions declined by 36% in 2009 from 1999 levels, Canada ranked thirdin SO_x emissions in 2009 and had the second largest ratio of emissions to GDP in million US$ at purchasing power parity (PPP) among the 10 selected countries.

Sulphur dioxide emissions by country, 1999 and 2009 

Note: Definitions of pollution sources and estimation methods may differ from country to country. Comparisons should be made with caution. Gross domestic product values are in constant $USD, constant purchase power parities (PPP), reference year 2000, millions.
Source: European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (2011), Centre on Emission Inventories and Projections database, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2011), National Inventory Submission 2011, GDP Statistics: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2011), StatExtracts.

Nitrogen oxides

Canada ranked fourth in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions among the 10 selected countries in 2009. When considering the ratio of emissions to GDP, Canada ranked third for NO_x amongst the selected countries, behind Australia and Russia.

Nitrogen oxide emissions by country, 1999 and 2009 

Note: Definitions of pollution sources and estimation methods may differ from country to country. Comparisons should be made with caution. Gross domestic product values are in constant $USD, constant purchase power parities (PPP), reference year 2000, millions.
Source: European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (2011), Centre on Emission Inventories and Projections database, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2011), National Inventory Submission 2011, GDP Statistics: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD) (2011), StatExtracts.

 

Volatile organic compounds

Canada ranked fourth for total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions among the 10 selected countries. When considering the ratio of emissions to GDP, Canada ranked second amongst the selected countries.

VOC emissions by country - 1999 and 2009

Note: Definitions of pollution sources and estimation methods may differ from country to country. Comparisons should be made with caution. Gross domestic product values are in constant $USD, constant purchase power parities (PPP), reference year 2000, millions.
Source: European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (2011), Centre on Emission Inventories and Projections database, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2011), National Inventory Submission 2011, GDP Statistics: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD) (2011), StatExtracts.

Ammonia

Canada ranked fifth in total NH₃ emissions among the 8 selected countries but ranked first when considering the ratio of emissions to GDP in 2009. Japan and Australia were not represented due to a lack of comparable data.

Comparison of NH₃ emissions by country - 1999 and 2009

Note: Definitions of pollution sources and estimation methods may differ from country to country. Comparisons should be made with caution. Gross domestic product values are in constant $USD, constant purchase power parities (PPP), reference year 2000, millions.
Source: European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (2011), Centre on Emission Inventories and Projections database, GDP Statistics: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD) (2011), StatExtracts.

Related indicators

• National Air Pollutant Emissions