According to preliminary figures, global greenhouse gas emissions for countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol were reduced by 22.6% compared to the reference year, 1990.(32) The overall target was substantially surpassed, but this is not the case for each of the participating countries. Figure 1-10 shows the GHG emissions gap in percentages compared to the initial target.

In Canada, none of the provinces has respected the Canadian GHG reduction target, which was 6% below the 1990 level for the 2008-2012 period. Quebec only exceeded the target by 1%, however, whereas Saskatchewan exceeded it by 66% (see Figure 1-11).

Figure 1-10
Gap between actual emissions and Kyoto Protocol GHG reduction objectives

Note: The United States are not part of the Kyoto Protocol, while Canada withdrew from it in 2012. We have included them for purposes of comparison.
Sources: Authors’ calculations. United Nations, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, article 3, 1998; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol Reference Manual on Accounting of Emissions and Assigned Amount, 2008, p. 55; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Time series – Annex I, Data for greenhouse gas (GHG) total.

Figure 1-11
Gap between actual emissions and Canada’s Kyoto Protocol GHG reduction objectives

Sources: Government of Canada, National and Provincial/Territorial Greenhouse Gas Emission Tables, 1990-2013, August 24, 2015; United Nations, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Annex B, 1998.

Note
32. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “The Kyoto Protocol – A Critical Step Forward: Emissions of Countries with Targets Fell Faster than Expected,” February 13, 2015, p. 1.

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