In December 2015, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change filed amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Regulation (O.Reg. 452/09) that came into force on January 1, 2016. An amended Guideline for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting was published as well. The amendments include:
- lowering the reporting threshold to 10,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from the current threshold of 25,000 tonnes per year, while maintaining the requirement to have emissions greater than 25,000 tonnes per year third party verified;
- dividing the emission sources into those that only need to report and those that require third party verification;
- clarification on verification to allow for the use of qualified positive, in addition to positive and adverse verification statements;
- adding petroleum product suppliers and natural gas distributors to the reporting regulation starting in 2016, to support the implementation of a cap and trade program; and
- adding other sources to the reporting regulation including:
– equipment used for natural gas transmission, distribution and storage;
– electricity imports;
– electricity transmission and distribution;
– magnesium production; and
– mobile equipment at facilities (optional reporting only).
These amendments were made to support the implementation of Ontario’s cap and trade program, the design for which is expected to be finalized in spring 2016. As previously announced by the Ontario government, it will also be releasing a detailed five-year action plan in 2016 which will include specific commitments for the province to meet its 2020 emission reduction targets and establish the framework necessary for Ontario to meet its 2030 and 2050 emission reduction targets.