2023 GTHA Carbon Emissions Inventory

Emissions by Region:

2023 Regional Insights

Halton Region Total Emissions, 2018-2023

Total emissions increased by less than 1% and reached the highest level since TAF began quantifying emissions in 2015. The industrial sector (up 3.5%) and transportation sector (up 3.1%) were the biggest drivers of this increase.

Halton Region Per Capita Emissions, 2018-2023

Halton Region 2023 Emissions by Sector

Building emissions come from electricity (up 29%) and natural gas (down 3.7%), and account for over half (56%) of Halton's total emissions.
Natural gas consumption in Halton decreased by 7.9% in residential buildings and 6.6% in commercial buildings, while emissions remained steady in the industrial sector. These reductions were mainly due to a warmer winter (2023 had 12% fewer heating degree days).
Although electricity consumption decreased by 1.2%, the total rise of 29% in electricity emissions was caused by the increase in carbon intensity of the provincial grid.
Cycling and walking distances decreased by 9% and 3%, respectively. However, the total number of cycling trips remained fairly consistent with 2022 and there was a 3% increase in the number of walking trips.
Halton saw a moderate rise in electric vehicle registrations compared to 2022, 9,313 EVs (up 47%) and 2,863 PHEVs (up 21%).

Halton Municipalities 2023 Emissions by Sector (tCO₂eq)

	Pop.	Elec.	Nat. Gas	Trans.	Ind.	Waste	Ag.	Total
Burlington	194,918	98,769	490,593	558,294	20,531	47,544	3,097	1,218,827
Halton Hills	65,635	32,777	1,094,175	225,063	0	16,009	17,636	1,385,661
Milton	138,648	63,121	267,603	449,400	85,669	33,819	12,624	912,236
Oakville	222,872	109,319	549,861	507,352	67,775	54,362	1,834	1,290,504

Building emissions are the largest source of emissions in Burlington, Halton Hills, and Oakville, while transportation is the largest source in Milton.
In Halton Hills, the significant natural gas emissions are primarily attributed to the industrial sector.
Natural gas emissions decreased in Burlington by 8%, largely due to a milder winter. Other municipalities in the region lacked 2022 natural gas data for comparison.
Transportation emissions increased across all municipalities in Halton, with the highest rises observed in Milton (up 5%) and Oakville (up 4%). Burlington saw a more modest increase of 1%, while Halton Hills saw a 2% rise.
While Halton municipalities saw a 3% reduction in walking distance, the number of walking trips increased by 3% indicating shorter and more frequent trips. Total cycling distance travelled decreased in Oakville (down 12%), Milton (down 9%) and Burlington (down 6%) while the number of cycling trips either increased slightly (Burlington, Milton) or decreased by 4% (Oakville).
Halton municipalities saw an average increase of 45% in electric vehicle registrations, with Milton leading at a notable 56% growth, followed by Oakville at 51%.

To encourage more distributed residential solar PV, the City of Burlington’s Committee of the Whole approved a one-year pilot incentive program to cover the cost of a building permit for solar panel system installations.
Burlington amended zoning bylaw parking standards at specific corridors around major transit stations to no longer require parking minimums.

Done

Exists at Local Level

In Progress

Not Initiated

	Mandatory Green Development Standards	Existing Building Performance Standards	Electric Vehicle Strategy	Building Retrofit Programs
Halton
Halton Hills
Burlington
Milton
Oakville