Absolute greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands increased by less than one per cent in 2024

Dave Sawyer, principal economist at the Canadian Climate Institute, said absolute emissions have increased by 150 per cent since 2005.

Greenhouse gas emissions from Canada’s sprawling oilsands went up by less than one per cent in 2024, even as production continued to climb, a new report says.

S&P Global Inc.’s analysis shows oilsands companies are making progress in cutting emissions for every barrel of production — known as emissions intensity — even as overall emissions increase.

“We see production growing more efficiently, and that’s leading to slower and lower absolute emission gains,” Kevin Birn, an analyst with S&P Global Commodity Insights, said. “As long as that continues, I think we still see absolute emissions continuing to grow, but (at a much slower) pace than the prio