TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2006 -- Canada NewsWire

Canadians can rank greenhouse gas-emitting facilities by province, company, facility and postal code.

As the federal government rolls out its clean air and climate change package, Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association have released the most comprehensive publicly accessible online ranking and tracking of large industrial greenhouse gas emitters across Canada. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contribute to global climate change.

The database, available on the PollutionWatch web site (www.PollutionWatch.org), shows that 321 facilities across Canada emitted 278,890,313 tonnes (CO2 equivalent) of greenhouse gases, more than one-third (37%) of the country's total emissions. That's more than the total greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, planes and trains combined. The PollutionWatch web site uses greenhouse gas emissions data provided by industry to the federal government. The data, which cover emissions for 2004, were reported by individual facilities in June 2005.

"For the first time, Canadians now have a comprehensive picture of which facilities are the biggest greenhouse gas polluters in the country," said Aaron Freeman, Policy and Campaigns Director, Environmental Defence. "It is these companies that will have to reduce the largest quantity of greenhouse gas emissions to ensure Canada meets our international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol."

The PollutionWatch analysis found that Alberta leads the provinces in total greenhouse gas emissions reported by facilities with 109,503,697 tonnes CO2 equivalent, followed by Ontario (77,273,825 tonnes CO2 equivalent), and Quebec (22,904,613 tonnes CO2 equivalent).

SOURCE: Environmental Defence

SOURCE: PollutionWatch

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