Almost 60% of emissions from Toronto come from heating buildings with gas.
Toronto, the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Chippewa, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee peoples - Today, The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) released its annual GHG inventory report. It found that instead of going down, emissions in the GTHA - and specifically in Toronto - have increased. This backwards climate progress will continue unless key policies are implemented.
The report shows that greenhouse gases emitted in Toronto have risen 1.2% to 15.3 megatonnes in 2024, the highest since 2016. The building sector represents 58% of total emissions in Toronto. Meanwhile, electricity emissions have risen 28%, driven primarily by the increase in fossil gas from the provincial electricity grid.
“Today’s report shows that the City of Toronto must expedite climate action, and that one of the most effective ways to do it is to cut emissions from buildings,” said How-Sen Chong, Climate Campaigner at Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). “Most of Toronto’s emissions come from heating buildings with gas. The City of Toronto has a prime opportunity to cut carbon pollution in the coming years by bringing in building performance standards as called for in their TransformTO climate plan. This key policy will also create jobs and spark massive local economic activity.”
To reach Toronto’s 2030 target of 65% emissions reductions by 2030, emissions now need to go down 8% a year. The target was approved by City Council by a unanimous vote in 2021.
“Toronto is facing intense heatwaves, dangerous wildfire smoke, and flooding like never before. Torontonians want their governments to take this seriously, and protect them by doing more to keep their climate promises and cut emissions,” added Chong. “Torontonians want climate-safe buildings, fast and reliable transit, a local circular economy, and strong policies to protect us from heat, smoke and flooding.
Torontonians have consistently supported climate action and called on their leaders to address the climate crisis. A recent Abacus poll published by TEA showed that 84% of Torontonians across the city support green building requirements that cut emissions.
For more information about building performance standards as a key climate policy, you can read TEA’s blog here.
Contact: [email protected]
Jessica Gordon, Communications Manager.
The report shows that greenhouse gases emitted in Toronto have risen 1.2% to 15.3 megatonnes in 2024, the highest since 2016. The building sector represents 58% of total emissions in Toronto. Meanwhile, electricity emissions have risen 28%, driven primarily by the increase in fossil gas from the provincial electricity grid.
“Today’s report shows that the City of Toronto must expedite climate action, and that one of the most effective ways to do it is to cut emissions from buildings,” said How-Sen Chong, Climate Campaigner at Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). “Most of Toronto’s emissions come from heating buildings with gas. The City of Toronto has a prime opportunity to cut carbon pollution in the coming years by bringing in building performance standards as called for in their TransformTO climate plan. This key policy will also create jobs and spark massive local economic activity.”
To reach Toronto’s 2030 target of 65% emissions reductions by 2030, emissions now need to go down 8% a year. The target was approved by City Council by a unanimous vote in 2021.
“Toronto is facing intense heatwaves, dangerous wildfire smoke, and flooding like never before. Torontonians want their governments to take this seriously, and protect them by doing more to keep their climate promises and cut emissions,” added Chong. “Torontonians want climate-safe buildings, fast and reliable transit, a local circular economy, and strong policies to protect us from heat, smoke and flooding.
Torontonians have consistently supported climate action and called on their leaders to address the climate crisis. A recent Abacus poll published by TEA showed that 84% of Torontonians across the city support green building requirements that cut emissions.
For more information about building performance standards as a key climate policy, you can read TEA’s blog here.
Contact: [email protected]
Jessica Gordon, Communications Manager.