November 21, 2025

Background
Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas. It is far more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over shorter timeframes—at least 28 times more heat over a 100-year period. Methane can be emitted during oil and gas development primarily due to equipment leaks, as well as through other sources such as venting. At the same time, reducing methane emissions can be implemented at a relatively low cost compared to other decarbonization technologies. Methane accounted for 117 Mt of CO₂e emissions in 2022, representing over 16 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately half of these emissions (56 Mt of CO₂e) come from the oil and gas sector.

In 2021, Canada became the first country to commit to a 75% reduction in methane emissions from its oil and gas sector, relative to 2012 levels, by 2030. Canada also joined over 100 countries in supporting the Global Methane Pledge to collectively reduce human-caused methane emissions. In 2018, the federal government introduced methane regulations to meet Canada’s commitment to reduce emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025.

Are Western Provinces Actually reducing Methene Emissions?
Figure 1 shows methane emission reduction by province from oil and gas sector.

Particularly in 2023, Alberta’s methane emissions were just over 15 Mt CO₂e, down from 31.6 Mt CO₂e in 2014. How were B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan able to achieve emission reductions ahead of schedule? The governments of all three provinces, together with the federal government, introduced regulations focused on technological improvements in oil and gas production. These regulations target three main sources of methene emissions: fugitive emissions (leaks), venting and flaring. An important component of methane-reduction programs is the methane measurement, reporting, and verification system. In addition, all three provinces have incentivized research and development related to methane-emission reduction. The federal government has also provided financial and technical support through R&D funding via the Methane Centre of Excellence. Finally, governments have created incentive structures that reward emissions reductions.

The reduction in oil and gas methane emissions is a success story. In Alberta alone, the reduction is equivalent to about 2% of all Canadian emissions. While overall oil and gas production in Western Canada continues to grow, emission intensity, calculated per unit of production, continues to decline.

References:
“Global Methane Pledge.”, https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/, Accessed November 20, 2025

“Reducing methane emissions.”, Government of Canada, 2025, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/reducing-methane-emissions.html

“Canada’s official greenhouse gas inventory.”, Government of Canada, 2025, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions/inventory.html

Bailie, Alison. “How oil and gas methane emissions were cut in half in under a decade”, 440 Megatonnes, 2025, https://440megatonnes.ca/insight/how-oil-and-gas-methane-emissions-were-cut-in-half-in-under-a-decade

“Reducing methane emissions”, Government of Alberta, 2025, https://www.alberta.ca/climate-methane-emissions