Total emissions increased by 0.8%, approaching 2019 levels. The transportation sector (up 2.1%) was the biggest driver of this increase for a second year in a row.

• Per capita emissions decreased by 1.9%, reaching 15.5 tonnes of carbon per person.
• Excluding Hamilton's sizeable industrial sector, which services the rest of the GTHA and beyond, per capita emissions were 8.4 tonnes of carbon per person in 2024, a 1% decrease from 2023.

• Hamilton’s industrial emissions are the largest source of emissions in the region and have been projected to decrease marginally (down 0.2%) for 2024, based on steel manufacturing production. According to recently published facility reported data, industrial emissions in 2023 increased by 3.8%, largely due to emissions reported from the ArcelorMittal Dofasco plant.  
• The building sector is the second-largest source of emissions in Hamilton, accounting for one-third of total emissions. Overall building emissions increased by 1.2%, with electricity emissions rising by 26% and natural gas emissions decreasing slightly by 1.4%.
• Natural gas consumption in Hamilton declined by 5% in the residential sector and 2% in the commercial sector, while the industrial sector saw a 1% increase. Hamilton recorded the highest per capita weather-normalized natural gas emissions across the GTHA, at 4.7 tonnes of carbon per person.
• Although electricity consumption increased slightly by 0.7%, the smallest increase across the GTHA, the 26% rise in electricity emissions was driven by the increased carbon intensity of the provincial grid.
• Transportation emissions increased by 2.1%, the second highest increase across GTHA municipalities.
• Hamilton saw a moderate rise of 42% in total electric vehicle registrations compared to 2023, with 5,867 EVs and 2,655 PHEVs registered in 2024.
• Hamilton Street Railway transit agency saw a 14% increase in ridership in 2024.
• Scope 3 aviation emissions at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport are not included in this inventory due to a lack of available fuel use data. Other sources have reported these emissions based on different methodologies and data sources than those used in this inventory. It is important to note that Hamilton Airport’s aviation emissions should not be solely attributed to the Hamilton region as the airport serves passengers from across the GTHA and beyond.