Will Montreal miss its 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets? The report published Wednesday by the City shows that on the territory of the island of Montreal, GHG emissions decreased by 26% between 1990 and 2018, a deterioration of the situation compared to the previous report.
Since 1990, the reduction in GHG emissions has been mainly attributable to the abandonment of fuel oil in the residential, commercial and institutional sectors, the closure of an oil refinery in Montreal’s east end and the installation of capturing and destroying biogas in landfills.
On the other hand, the transport sector, which accounts for 39% of emissions, continues to hamper efforts to reduce GHGs. Overall, GHG emissions have increased by 5% for this sector since 1990.
The number of vehicles continued to grow faster than the population in the Montreal agglomeration. Thus, the car fleet increased by 25% between 1990 and 2018, while population growth was 11.3% for the same period. The number of light trucks, such as SUVs and minivans, increased by a staggering 253% while the number of light vehicles decreased by 14%.
Electric cars are still marginal. As of December 31, 2021, electric or hybrid vehicles represented only 2% of the vehicle fleet, while the target for 2030 is 47%.
As for emissions related to air transport, they grew by 12% between 2017 and 2018 due to a significant increase in the number of passenger flights. There is also a 19% increase in one year for the manufacturing and construction industries sector.
These results therefore show a certain deterioration in the situation. Remember that in 2019, Montreal published a report that reported a 28% reduction in GHG emissions on the island of Montreal between 1990 and 2015. recognizes Marie-Andrée Mauger, head of ecological transition and the environment on the executive committee. “The number of vehicles is growing more than twice as fast as the population. […] We are going to need strong actions to succeed in making a shift towards sustainable mobility by adopting active and public transport and [l’augmentation du nombre de] electric vehicles. »
The effect of the pandemic
Do the results published on Wednesday suggest that Montreal could miss its objectives of a 30% reduction for 2020 compared to 1990? Marie-Andrée Mauger is hopeful that this target can be reached, especially since the pandemic should have a beneficial effect on results.
“On the air and road transport side, there has been a massive drop,” notes the elected official. The City should be able to know if it has met its 2020 targets when the data is tallied next year.
Marie-Andrée Mauger also believes that Montreal will be able to make significant gains in terms of buildings in the coming years. Last May, the City announced its decision to no longer authorize fossil fuel heating systems from 2024. It had also moved forward by a decade, to 2040, its objective of seeing the entire building stock of the metropolis powered by renewable energy.
Its regulation on the disclosure and rating of GHG emissions from large buildings, which came into force last September, could improve its balance sheet. This measure should allow the City to know precisely the performance of the buildings and to develop programs adapted to this type of building.
Remember that Montreal is aiming for a 55% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 under its 2020-2030 climate plan unveiled in December 2020.
The opposition to City Hall believes that the progress observed in terms of ecological transition is very limited. “The City of Montreal is currently facing a recycling crisis. Before promising carbon neutrality by 2050 to Montrealers, we still have to offer them basic services to improve the environment,” commented Ensemble Montréal advisor Stéphanie Valenzuela. It also criticizes the administration for not having implemented the carbon budget promised in 2019.