Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The RSPEDE regulation requires Quebec's largest industrial polluters to report their greenhouse gas emissions. Reported emissions from these 137 facilities have risen 4.0% between 2013 and 2024, from 18.4 to 19.2 million tonnes of CO₂eq. The peak was reached in 2021 at 19.8 Mt, followed by a slight decline since.

Emissions are highly concentrated: manufacturing alone accounts for over 85% of covered emissions, and the top 10 emitters — cement plants, oil refineries, and aluminum smelters — represent nearly half the total. The Port-Daniel cement plant, Valero's Jean-Gaulin refinery, and Suncor's refinery in Montréal-Est lead the pack, together accounting for nearly 20% of 2024 emissions.

It's worth noting that this registry only covers large industrial emitters, not transportation, agriculture, or residential heating, which together account for the majority of Quebec's GHG emissions. The facility-level data does, however, reveal striking individual trajectories — some plants have significantly cut their emissions, while others have seen them surge.