Yellowknife (May 25/05) - Industry is largely responsible for a huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the territory, according to a study by the department of Environment and Natural Resources.

But the weight of responsibility for reducing emissions continues to fall on individuals.

A booming economy, especially in the mining and oil and gas sectors, is largely to blame for the huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions. BYLINE:

Greenhouse gas emissions increased 60 per cent in the NWT between 1996-2001, an increase that reflects the economic boom during that time, says Emery Paquin, director of environmental protection for the department.

Natural gas and mining projects, like the Ekati mine and Liard gas fields, were the primary culprits, while road construction was another source, he says.

The inventory totals the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in 1996, not including Nunavut, stood at 1,090 kilotonnes. That number rose to 1,750 in 2001.

Under stationary fuel combustion - from sources like generators and buildings - the mining, oil and gas industries amassed 24 per cent of the emission total of 1,750 kilotonnes of emissions, compared to five per cent for residential emissions. Diesel trucks travelling on mining and ice roads rank as the second biggest contributor at 19 per cent. Gasoline cars made up 2 per cent of the emission total.

Despite the obvious finger-pointing to industry, with no regulations in place to govern greenhouse gases in the territory, Paquin can only hope that government and industry take notice of the findings.

"Hopefully the public is going to read it and it will help government and industry plan for future actions," says Paquin.

Otherwise, the purpose of the inventory is for public education and tracking purposes, he says. "There is no regulatory action being taken," says Paquin.

David Malcolm, executive director of the Arctic Energy Alliance, hopes the study will promote alternative energy use in industry and communities, such as run-of-the-river hydro electric projects.

"There's an opportunity to work with resource companies to try and improve the situation as far as formal increases are concerned," he says.

Individual efforts important

Paquin and Malcolm think greenhouse gas emissions can be controlled, but not reduced. Canada is currently struggling to get emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels.

Individual efforts, like the One Tonne Challenge and other federal and GNWT programs are an important part of that control, says Malcolm.

"We can't hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because we are in such an expansive economy, but we can certainly reduce the territorial emissions by doing the best we can individually," says Malcolm.

Paquin's department is updating its greenhouse gas strategy to present to cabinet this fall. The original plan was released in 2001 to increase awareness and promote action for Northerners, including industry and government, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.