Canada's Climate Daily

The numbers don’t look good.

A new federal study has revealed Canada’s oilpatch is emitting nearly twice as much methane as previously thought. Environment Canada found three megatonnes of the potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere over Alberta and Saskatchewan – nearly double the previous total of 1.6 megatonnes.

The finding comes shortly after Environment Canada reached deals with the two provinces that allow them to set their own methane regulations, a move that’s drawn criticism from environmental advocates. Researchers are still working to determine where the additional emissions are coming from.

Canada was already on track to fall significantly short of its 2025 goal of reducing methane emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2012 levels. Though the federal government insists it is committed to meeting its reduction target, federally commissioned research from before the new study’s release predicts Canada will only achieve two-thirds of its goal.