City of Toronto surpasses 2020 Greenhouse Gas emissions target, calls for ambitious, community-wide action to meet future targets

Today, the City of Toronto released its 2020 Sector-based Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory, which tracks Toronto’s progress towards its GHG reduction targets and identifies direct and indirect GHG emissions from three key sectors: buildings, transportation and waste. In 2020, community-wide emissions in Toronto were 43 per cent lower than in 1990, which exceeds the City’s 2020 target of a 30 per cent reduction.

Toronto’s GHG reduction targets are outlined in the City’s accelerated TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, which was adopted by Toronto City Council in December 2021. Toronto’s target to reduce community-wide emissions to net zero by 2040 is one of the most ambitious in North America.

The City’s interim GHG reduction targets are 45 per cent by 2025 and 65 per cent by 2030, based on 1990 levels.

2020 Sector-based GHG Inventory highlights

• Globally, 2020 was an anomaly year for GHG emissions. Global emissions plunged by roughly 2.4 billion tonnes in 2020, a seven per cent drop from 2019 and the largest decline on record, triggered by worldwide COVID-19 restrictions. In Toronto, this translated to a 13 per cent community-wide GHG emissions reduction from 2019 levels. As the recovery from COVID-19 continues, emissions levels in Toronto are expected to approach pre-pandemic levels, erasing some of the gains made in 2020.
• In 2020, Toronto’s community-wide GHG emissions were 14 megatonnes (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which is 43 per cent lower than 1990 levels; Toronto surpassed the 2020 target of a 30 per cent reduction in GHG emissions.
• Decreased transportation activities were the main contributor to the emissions reduction in Toronto as many residents were required to either work or learn from home in response to COVID-19 restrictions. Toronto’s transportation sector saw the most dramatic emissions decrease: almost one-fifth lower than in 2019.
• Buildings continued to be the primary source of GHG emissions in Toronto, totaling 58 per cent of community-wide emissions, an increase of two per cent over 2019. Natural gas, used primarily for space and water heating, is the largest source of building sector emissions, accounting for 54 per cent of all community-wide emissions.
• Transportation was the second largest source of GHG emissions in Toronto, totaling 33 per cent of community-wide emissions, a decrease of two per cent over 2019. Gasoline used in passenger cars and trucks was the primary source of these emissions, which accounted for 25 per cent of all community-wide emissions.
• Waste sector emissions, primarily from landfills, comprised roughly nine per cent of community-wide emissions.
• City of Toronto corporate emissions, or local government emissions, decreased by roughly 15 per cent compared to 2019 and continued to account for about five per cent of community-wide emissions.

Ambitious community-wide climate action will continue to be required in order to reach the City’s 2025 target of a 45 per cent emissions reduction, based on 1990 levels, as emissions are expected to approach pre-pandemic levels as the COVID-19 recovery continues. Community-wide emissions must be cut in half over the next seven years to achieve the trajectory needed to reach net zero by 2040.

Like other major cities globally, the City releases its Sector-based GHG Emissions Inventory on a two-year lag cycle. To ensure the best available data, the City waits for Canada’s national inventory to be submitted to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement. Canada’s submission contains detailed province-specific values that are used to calculate Toronto’s emissions.

In November 2022, the City was recognized as a global leader on environmental action and transparency, achieving a place on the “CDP Cities A List” for the fourth consecutive year. CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), an environmental impact non-profit organization, runs the global environmental disclosure system that helps companies, cities and regions measure and manage their risks, and opportunities, on climate change, water security and deforestation.

More information about the 2020 Sector-based GHG Emissions Inventory and TransformTO Net Zero Strategy is available at Toronto.ca/TransformTO.

Information about City programs and incentives to help residents reduce emissions is available at Toronto.ca/LiveGreen.

Information about Toronto’s sustainable design and performance requirements for new private and city-owned developments, including how new developments can reduce emissions, and incentives through the Tier 2+ Development Charge Refund Program is available on the City’s Toronto Green Standard webpage.

Quotes:

“The City, its residents, businesses and community partners have made great strides to fight climate change at a local level – and we still have much work to do. Council set an ambitious target to reduce emissions to net zero by 2040 and with today’s announcement, we’re on the right track. Tackling this crisis requires ongoing community-wide action, and commitment and investment by all levels of government, and we are committed to working with our partners at every level to make that happen.”
– Mayor John Tory

“We must continue to work together – residents, businesses and all levels of government – to address the climate emergency. Rapidly transforming our homes, buildings and vehicles will require the support of everyone.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Note: this news release was updated on January 10, 2023 to accurately reflect “a 13 per cent community-wide GHG emissions reduction from 2019 levels” in Toronto. This had been incorrectly listed as 11 per cent previously.