2023 GTHA Carbon Emissions Inventory

Emissions by Region:

2023 Regional Insights

Durham Region Total Emissions, 2018-2023

Total emissions increased by 1.9% mostly due to the increase in transportation sector emissions (3.6%).

Durham Region Per Capita Emissions, 2018-2023

Per capita emissions including agriculture and industry decreased by 1%, reaching 7.8 tCO₂eq/person.
Excluding the industrial and agricultural sectors, Durham's per capita emissions were 5.8 tCO₂eq/person in 2023, a 1.3% decrease from 2022.

Durham Region 2023 Emissions by Sector

Natural gas consumption in Durham decreased by 2.9% in the industrial sector, and 5.8% in the residential and commercial sectors. These reductions were mainly due to a warmer winter (2023 had 12% fewer heating degree days). Durham had the lowest per capita weather normalized gas emissions (2.1 tCO₂eq/person) across the GTHA.
Although electricity consumption decreased marginally (<1%), electricity emissions increased by 30%, largely driven by the increasing carbon intensity of the provincial electricity grid.
Durham’s industrial emissions are estimated to have increased by 2.9% for 2023, based on cement and other manufacturing job growth. According to recently published facility reported data, industrial emissions in 2022 decreased by 11%, largely due to emissions reported from St. Mary’s Bowmanville Cement Plant.
Most of the GTHA's agricultural activity is concentrated in Durham, making up 3% of the region's total emissions. It is important to note that food grown in Durham is consumed by communities across Ontario and beyond.
The distance travelled by cyclists increased by 14% and the number of cycling trips also increased by 24%. The number of walking trips increased by 7%, while the distance traveled remained close to 2022 levels, indicating shorter and more frequent trips.
Durham saw a considerable increase in electric vehicle registrations compared to 2022, 1,887 PHEVs (up 31%) and 5,849 EVs (up 56%), the highest increase in GTHA.

Durham Municipalities 2023 Emissions by Sector (tCO₂eq)

	Pop.	Elec.	Nat. Gas	Trans.	Ind.	Waste	Ag.	Total
Ajax	133,422	43,945	219,747	427,539	0	36,647	0	727,878
Brock	13,237	5,182	n/a	42,705	0	3,636	47,136	n/a
Clarington	106,837	54,778	151,422	366,487	971,205	29,345	46,636	1,619,873
Oshawa	184,737	62,602	397,038	546,811	90,840	50,742	2,079	1,150,112
Pickering	104,476	46,586	213,007	267,299	35,390	28,697	4,785	595,764
Scugog	22,732	9,180	n/a	55,324	0	6,244	45,985	n/a
Uxbridge	22,706	9,289	n/a	69,828	0	6,237	38,469	n/a
Whitby	145,888	60,677	426,865	491,094	168,839	40,071	3,021	1,190,568

Transportation was the largest source of emissions in Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, and Whitby, which can largely be explained by lower density and reliance on personal vehicle use.
In Clarington, industrial emissions are the highest contributors to the city’s total emissions, primarily due to the Bowmanville Cement Plant.
The majority of agricultural emissions in Durham come from Brock, Clarington, Scugog, and Uxbridge.
Natural gas emissions decreased in Ajax (down 10%) , Clarington (down 5%), and Oshawa (down 4%) largely due to a milder winter. Some municipalities lacked 2022 data for comparison.
Transportation emissions increased in Pickering (up 15%), Ajax (up 7%), and Oshawa (up 6%), while Clarington and Uxbridge reduced their emissions by 3% and 8%, respectively.
Ajax and Oshawa experienced an increase of 7% and 9% in their cycling trips, respectively. In Durham Region, all municipalities saw a rise in walking trips, ranging from 1% in Clarington to 10% in Oshawa and Ajax.
Municipalities in Durham saw a 56% increase, on average, in electric vehicle adoption. Brock led with a remarkable growth of 76%, followed by Oshawa with a 63% increase.

Ajax has received funding to expand their South Ajax Home Retrofit Program for a second year. The program offers one-on-one guidance and support from city staff, workshops, and personalized retrofit and incentive recommendations.
Durham Region has received federal funding for the installation of 259 new electric vehicle charging stations.
Durham York Energy Centre has revised its program to improve waste diversion rates and minimize the waste that needs to be processed at the centre.

Done

Exists at Local Level

In Progress

Not Initiated

Mandatory Green Development Standards

Existing Building Performance Standards

Electric Vehicle Strategy

Building Retrofit Programs

Durham

Ajax

Pickering

Scugog

Whitby

Oshawa

Clarington

Brock

Uxbridge