Quantify industrial emissions
Last updated on March 20, 2026This page explains how to calculate industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It includes the approved methods operators must use. It also includes current versions and updates of the methods for previous years.
On this page
- Emissions quantification methodologies
- Current versions of quantification methods
- Amended quantification methods for previous years
Emissions quantification methodologies
Operators that have to report emissions must use specified or approved methods to measure their GHG emissions. All Reporting Operations must use the core 2011 Western Climate Initiative (WCI) quantification methods. They must also use the 2012 and 2013 amendments, if required, for the activity and reporting period.
For more information, see the Emission Sources and Required WCI Methods table.
Current versions of quantification methods
Core
Amendments
- 2012: Final Essential Requirements for Mandatory Reporting – Amended for Canadian Harmonization (PDF, 1.1MB)
- 2013: WCI Essential Requirements for Mandatory Reporting – 2013 Addendum to Canadian Harmonization Version (PDF, 702KB)
The table below lists the methods for each emission source or activity. It also shows updates from all three documents.
| Specific emission source or activity | Core version (mandatory base) | Applicable amendments (supplemental to core version) |
|---|---|---|
| General Stationary Combustion | 2012 - WCI.020 | |
| Refinery Fuel Gas Combustion | 2011 - WCI.030 | |
| Electricity Generation | 2011 - WCI.040* | 2012 |
| Adipic Acid Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.050 | |
| Imported Electricity | 2011 - WCI.060 | |
| Primary Aluminum Production | 2011 - WCI.070 | |
| Ammonia Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.080 | |
| Cement Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.090 | 2012, 2013 |
| Coal Storage | 2011 - WCI.100 | |
| Electronics Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.110 | |
| HCFC-22 Production and HFC-23 Destruction | 2011 - WCI.120 | |
| Hydrogen Production | 2011 - WCI.130 | 2013 |
| Glass Production | 2011 - WCI.140 | |
| Iron and Steel Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.150 | |
| Lead Production | 2011 - WCI.160 | 2012, 2013 |
| Lime Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.170 | |
| Carbonates Use | 2011 - WCI.180 | |
| Petroleum Refineries | 2011 - WCI.200 | |
| Pulp and Paper Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.210 | 2012 |
| Soda Ash Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.220 | |
| Electricity Transmission (and Emissions from Electrical Equipment in Electrical Generation) | 2011 - WCI.230 | 2013 |
| Zinc Production | 2011 - WCI.240 | 2012, 2013 |
| Underground Coal Mines | 2011 - WCI.250 | |
| Nickel and Copper Metal Production | 2011 - WCI.260 | 2013 |
| Ferroalloy Production | 2011 - WCI.270 | |
| Mobile Equipment at Facilities | 2011 - WCI.280 | 2013 |
| Magnesium Production | 2011 - WCI.290 | |
| Petrochemical Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.300 | |
| Nitric Acid Manufacturing | 2011 - WCI.310 | |
| Phosphoric Acid Production | 2011 - WCI.340 | 2013 |
| Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution | 2012 - WCI.350** | 2013 |
| Petroleum and Natural Gas Production and Natural Gas Processing | 2012 - WCI.360** | 2013 |
*For operators using the WCI.040 methodology:
Contact your natural gas provider for the carbon content value. Use the value to calculate electricity generation emissions.
**For operators using the WCI.350 or WCI.360 methodologies:
For a device listed in Table 4, use Table 4 of Schedule A of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulation (GGERR) instead of Table WCI.350-6 or WCI.360-6.
Open Pit Coal Mining
Operations that conduct open pit coal mining must calculate emissions from coal. Emissions occur when mining breaks the coal or exposes it to the air. Use section 2 of Schedule A of the GGERR to calculate emissions.
Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting Act (GGIRCA) Bulletins
The Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (GGIRCA) Bulletins contain important legal information that may be relevant for your emission report. Bulletins are published and amended regularly on the Bulletins, Legislation and Guidance webpage.
Visit the GGIRCA Bulletins page to stay informed.
Amended quantification methods for previous years
Amended quantification methods for 2012
- In February 2012, the Western Climate Initiative released the Final Essential Requirements for Mandatory Reporting – Amended for Canadian Harmonization (PDF, 1.1MB). This update replaced the December 2011 publication
- Starting with the 2012 reporting period, all reporting operations must use the second update of the amended WCI quantification methods. The update applies to:
- WCI.020 (General Stationary Combustion)
- WCI.350 (Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution)
- WCI.360 (Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems).
If a method was not updated, use the 2011 (see below) amended methods for 2012 reporting.
- For both 2011 and 2012 reporting, the WCI second update includes errata that clarifies parts of the following:
- WCI.040 Electricity Generation
- WCI.090 Cement Production
- WCI.160 Lead Production
- WCI.240 Zinc Production
- WCI.210 Pulp and Paper Production quantification methods.
- For 2011 and 2012 reporting, Section 13 of the Reporting Regulation (PDF, 688KB) sets out alternative parameter measurement and replacement methods. A separate application is required for the 2012 reporting period. These alternatives only apply when a specific method is new or modified
Amended quantification methods for 2011
- In December 2010, the Western Climate Initiative published the “Final Essential Requirements for Mandatory Reporting – Amended for Canadian Harmonization”. All reporting operations must use the amended WCI quantification methods starting in the 2011 reporting period. The 2011 report was due Mach 31, 2012. These methods apply to all activities in Tables 1 and 2 of the Reporting Regulation (PDF, 688KB)