Notice of release
Québec, April 22, 2022. – On the occasion of Earth Day, the Institut de la statistique du Québec is publishing its first estimate of the carbon footprint of Québec households. This footprint totalled at least 71,997 thousand tons of CO2 equivalent (kt of CO2 eq.) for 2017, which is equivalent to 8.7 tons per capita.
The carbon footprint of households corresponds to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced to meet the consumption needs of households, whether generated by the households themselves or by the industrial sectors that supply them with the goods and services requested.
The carbon footprint measures emissions generated in Québec (44,704 kt of CO2 eq.), elsewhere in Canada (9,896 kt of CO2 eq.), and elsewhere on the planet (17,396 kt of CO2).
In addition to accounting for GHG emissions emitted directly by households, the study provides information on the following:
- Emissions according to different categories of goods and services consumed by households.
- Emissions from the manufacturing, transportation and distribution of finished and intermediate products used to meet household consumption needs (indirect emissions).
- The carbon footprint by location of GHG emissions (in Québec, in other Canadian provinces and territories) and CO2 emissions generated outside Canada.
- The carbon footprint per dollar spent.
Methodology and data source
This first estimate of the carbon footprint of Québec households was produced using data from the GHG emissions account and an OECD database on the CO2 content of international trade. It also uses results from the Québec input-output model. This model is based on Statistics Canada’s Supply and Use Tables. A “Canada outside Québec” version of this model was developed for the purposes of the analysis.
This initial estimate by the Institut will be revised regularly as data become available.
The methodology used is described in the appendix of the publication.
For more information
Read the publication (PDF, 3.06 MB)
View some of the data (interactive figures, in French only)
View the data table (in French only)