Who Pollutes More: Canada Or The Us?

Canada and the US have both made moderate progress in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, but the latter has a better record of emissions reduction. While both countries have set ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 2030, they are not on track to meet these goals. In fact, as of 2021, emissions had only fallen by 8.5% in Canada and 15.2% in the US.

There are several reasons why the US has outperformed Canada in reducing emissions. Firstly, the US has made stronger inroads in the transportation sector, which is the largest emitting sector in the US and the second-largest in Canada. This is partly due to stricter emissions standards and a lower rise in road transport activity in the US compared to Canada. Secondly, the US has benefited from the early decline in emissions from coal power plants, with several states implementing legislation to mandate emissions reduction. In contrast, Canada's emissions from the electricity sector have only recently started to decline due to efforts by the Alberta government and rising carbon prices. Thirdly, the US has been more successful in reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector through a combination of regulations, voluntary programs, and government-industry partnerships.

While Canada has shown progress in certain areas, such as the electricity sector, it faces additional challenges due to its faster-growing population and higher levels of oil production, which contribute to increased emissions. To meet their emission reduction targets, both countries will need to strengthen their efforts and prioritize different measures to address the specific sources of emissions in each country.

Canadian oil refineries' pollution controls

Canada's petroleum industry, also known as the "Canadian Oil Patch", is a major industry that is important to the overall economy of North America. Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world and is the fourth-largest producer and exporter of oil. In 2019, Canada produced an average of 750,000 cubic metres per day (4.7 Mbbl/d) of crude oil and its equivalents, of which 64% was upgraded from unconventional oil sands. The majority of Canadian petroleum production is exported, with approximately 600,000 cubic metres per day (3.8 Mbbl/d) exported in 2019, and 98% of these exports going to the United States.

Canada's crude oil has an increasingly significant role in U.S. refineries, with crude oil imports from Canada making up most U.S. imports. In 2023, 60% of U.S. crude oil imports originated in Canada, up from 33% in 2013. This is due to the geographic proximity of the two countries, which allows Canada's pipelines to transport crude oil from the western provinces to refineries in the U.S. In 2023, Canada's crude oil exports to the U.S. amounted to 24% of U.S. refinery throughput.

While the petroleum industry is important to Canada's economy, it has also contributed to environmental issues such as air, water, and soil pollution, as well as the associated negative health effects on the Canadian population. Oil sand pollution, for example, has increased by 20% since 2009, and tar sands facilities are among the top four highest polluters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major air contaminant. VOCs and other air contaminants are expected to increase due to continued output from the oil sands, which will also contribute to increased acid rain.

In terms of pollution controls, Canadian oil refineries lag behind their U.S. counterparts. Canada's most important pollution law, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 ("CEPA"), has not been updated in nearly twenty years and lacks industrial emissions requirements for oil refineries. In contrast, the U.S. has had national emissions requirements for refineries since the 1970s under the Clean Air Act. A benchmarking analysis conducted in 2015 revealed that fourteen out of fifteen refineries in Canada emit more sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) than comparable refineries in the U.S. Additionally, thirteen out of fifteen refineries in Canada release more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than their U.S. counterparts. The Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, for example, would need to reduce SO2 emissions by 98% and NOx by 75% to meet U.S. benchmarks.

The lack of updated pollution laws and industrial emissions requirements in Canada has contributed to the country's struggle to regulate emissions from refineries. As a result, Canada has failed to protect the health of its citizens, particularly those in vulnerable and historically disadvantaged populations, such as low-income communities and Indigenous groups, who often reside near oil refineries.

To address these issues, there have been calls for urgent reform and strengthening of CEPA, including the introduction of binding air quality standards and the recognition of Canadians' basic human right to a healthy environment.

Vehicular emissions

Historically, Canada's vehicle emissions standards have been closely tied to those of the US. In 2010, Canada announced plans to harmonize its vehicle emissions standards with the tougher US standards for cars and light trucks for the 2011-2016 model years. This move was expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles in Canada by 25% compared to 2008 models. The new standards required vehicles to meet a fuel efficiency target of 35.5 miles per gallon or 6.6 L/100 km.

However, in 2018, tensions arose when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration announced its intention to weaken vehicle emissions standards. This prompted calls for Canada to "divorce" its vehicle emissions standards from those of the US to maintain its commitment to reducing emissions. California, a state with stricter emissions standards, was suggested as a potential partner for Canada to consider.

The transportation sector in both countries faces challenges in reducing emissions. Population growth and higher road transport activity have offset the benefits of falling emissions intensity in Canada. In contrast, the US has benefited from a lower rise in road transport activity. Additionally, the stock of light-duty trucks, which emit more greenhouse gases, has risen faster in Canada than in the US.

To address these challenges, stronger support for the adoption of electric vehicles is necessary in Canada. Promoting and supporting the production and adoption of electric vehicles can help counteract the impact of higher population growth on transport emissions. Expanding public transportation and making it more convenient and reliable can also incentivize people to use buses and trains instead of driving. In the US, while there has been success in reducing emissions intensity, more efforts are needed to reduce transport emissions, especially in the largest emitting economic sector, the transportation sector.

Air pollution from oil production

Canada

In Canada, oil sand pollution has increased by 20% since 2009, and tar sands facilities are among the top four highest polluters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major air contaminant. Oil sand pollution is also set to increase acid rain, which can cause damage to soil, water, wildlife, plants, and buildings.

A 2024 study by the Canadian government and Yale University found that air pollution from oil sands extraction is 20 to 64 times higher than industry-reported figures. The study used aircraft-based sensors to capture real-time readings for a wider range of pollutants than typically measured by the industry. The pollutants emitted by oil sands operations include hydrocarbons, a class of compounds known to be harmful to health, including benzene and nitrous oxides, which can impact respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.

The oil and gas sector in Canada has seen an increase in emissions since 2005 due to rising oil production and a shift towards more emissions-intensive oil production. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas emitted in this sector, and it has been projected that a decline in absolute emissions from oil and gas will be necessary for Canada to reach its 2030 emissions reduction targets.

United States

In the US, the oil and natural gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and smog-forming volatile organic compounds. A study by the University of North Carolina Institute for the Environment found that air pollution from the oil and gas sector in the US has adverse impacts on air quality, human health, and health costs. The pollutants nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) from oil and gas production contributed to excess deaths, asthma attacks, and new cases of childhood asthma across the US in 2016, with health costs totaling $77 billion annually.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed revisions to its Clean Air Act rule to reduce methane and other harmful air pollution from oil and natural gas operations. The EPA also has voluntary programs in place, such as the Natural Gas STAR program, which encourages oil and gas companies to reduce methane emissions.

Transboundary pollution

Canada and the United States have made notable progress in reducing transboundary pollution since the implementation of the agreement. Between 1990 and 2020, both nations achieved significant reductions in the deposition of wet sulphate and wet nitrate, the key indicators of acid deposition, in their eastern regions. Additionally, from 2000 to 2020, emissions of nitrogen dioxide decreased by 65% and 72% in Canada and the U.S., respectively, in the transboundary ozone area. Annual ozone levels have also decreased by 21% and 26% in Canada and the U.S. since 2001. These improvements are a result of regulations and programs designed to meet emission reduction commitments and air quality management goals in both countries.

Despite these achievements, transboundary pollution continues to be a concern. Prevailing winds can carry air pollutants from the U.S. to Canada, significantly impacting the formation of acid rain and smog in certain Canadian regions. It is estimated that approximately 70% of Canada's air pollution originates from the United States. This has led to health issues for Canadians, with air pollution from the U.S. being linked to 5,000 premature deaths in Ontario each year. Additionally, Canadian municipalities have had to address the challenges posed by transboundary pollution, such as increased levels of smog and its associated respiratory diseases.

To further combat transboundary pollution, Canada and the U.S. are undertaking a review and assessment of the Air Quality Agreement. This review aims to determine if the commitments in the agreement remain appropriate and if new measures are required. Both nations recognise the need for continued bilateral cooperation to address the ongoing health and environmental impacts of transboundary air pollution, particularly regarding acid rain and smog.

Water pollution

In Canada, water quality is assessed using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index, which evaluates specific parameters such as major ions, physical parameters, trace metals, nutrients, and pesticides. From 2020 to 2022, water quality in Canadian rivers was rated as fair to excellent at 86% of monitored sites. However, it is important to note that trends in water quality from 2002 to 2022 showed deterioration at 41% of sites and improvement at only 11%.

Land development, including agriculture, mining, forestry, and high population density, can negatively impact water quality. For example, fertilizers, pesticides, and manure from livestock can wash into nearby rivers or seep into groundwater, affecting water quality. Additionally, forestry activities, such as removing trees, can increase the runoff of nutrients and contaminants into rivers.

In the US, water pollution is also a concern, particularly in certain regions. According to the data, the US has higher levels of organic water pollutants, with 1.89 million kg per day of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) emissions compared to Canada's 310,282.4 kg per day. The US also has higher levels of municipal waste generation, with 760 kg per person per year compared to Canada's 640 kg.

Both countries face the challenge of improving water quality and reducing pollution levels to ensure the protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health.

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