2023 GTHA Carbon Emissions Inventory

Emissions by Region:

2023 Regional Insights

York Region Total Emissions, 2018-2023

Total emissions increased by 1.5% reaching 8 Mt, continuing to approach 2019 levels. The transportation sector was the biggest driver for this increase (up 3.6%).

York Region Per Capita Emissions, 2018-2023

Per capita emissions increased marginally by 0.1%, remaining at 6.2 tCO₂eq/person.

York Region 2023 Emissions by Sector

Natural gas consumption in the region decreased by 6.3%, mainly due to a warm winter (2023 had 12% fewer heating degree days). Reductions in consumption were seen across the residential (down 7%), commercial (down 5%) and industrial (down 5%) building sectors.
While electricity consumption increased slightly (<1%), electricity emissions increased by 31%, largely due to the increasing carbon intensity of the provincial electricity grid.
Total cycling distance increased by 1%, and the number of cycling trips saw a considerable rise of 9%. In contrast, walking distance decreased by 3%, but the number of walking trips increased by 4%.
York saw a moderate rise in electric vehicle registrations compared to 2022: 18,170 EVs (up 55%) and 4,141 PHEVs (up 31%).

York Municipalities 2023 Emissions by Sector (tCO₂eq)

	Pop.	Elec.	Nat. Gas	Trans.	Ind.	Waste	Ag.	Total
Aurora	64,116	30,988	142,935	122,361	0	12,131	0	308,415
East Gwillimbury	35,786	6,338	n/a	247,394	0	6,771	11,132	n/a
Georgina	49,223	23,067	77,027	256,936	0	9,314	14,094	380,437
King	28,240	9,525	n/a	145,773	0	5,343	20,940	n/a
Markham	349,734	148,577	697,888	772,503	449	66,174	5,690	1,691,281
Newmarket	90,860	57,241	190,001	219,004	0	17,192	2,020	485,458
Richmond Hill	208,725	85,813	438,796	532,873	0	39,493	0	1,096,975
Vaughan	333,823	231,919	986,401	1,746,989	13,689	63,163	2,651	3,044,813
Whitchurch–Stouffville	51,518	40,199	n/a	256,288	0	9,748	20,705	n/a

Building emissions are the primary source of emissions across most municipalities in York Region. However, in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Georgina, transportation represents the largest source of emissions.
Natural gas emissions decreased across most cities by an average of 6%, largely due to a milder winter. Some municipalities lacked 2022 data for comparison.
Transportation emissions saw a 1% decrease in Aurora and East Gwillimbury, while significant increases were observed in King (up 24%) and Whitchurch-Stouffville (up 26%). On average, transportation emissions rose by 3% across all other municipalities in York.
Cycling distance across York municipalities largely remained the same in 2023 while the number of cycling trips increased 9%, on average. Markham saw a 3% increase in cycling trips and both Markham and Newmarket experienced a 7% increase in walking trips.
Georgina led electric vehicle registrations with a significant 70% growth. East Gwillimbury followed with a 59% increase, while Markham and Newmarket both saw a 58% rise, and Aurora registered a 54% increase.

York Region Transit has received federal funding to electrify its bus fleet and purchase zero-emission transit buses and install charging infrastructure.
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

York

East Gwillimbury

Vaughan

Georgina

Aurora

Newmarket

King

Markham

Whitchurch-Stouffville

Richmond Hill