Environment and Climate Change Canada Publishes Offset Protocol for Refrigeration Systems

Environment and Climate Change Canada has published the second  federal offset protocol for use under Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Systems (Version 1.0). 

Industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems are found across Canada in grocery stores, malls, ice rinks and cold storage warehouses, etc. Releases of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from these systems can happen during equipment installation, when charging or topping up equipment with refrigerant, and from routine operation and maintenance. This protocol provides an incentive to replace the refrigerants currently used in these systems with ones that are less harmful to the climate.  

Today, ECCC has also published an updated Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction (Version 1.1) protocol. Both protocols can be found in the Compendium of Federal Offset Protocols 

Further information on federal offsets protocols can also be found on the Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System: Protocols webpage. 

Upcoming webinars:  

Public webinars will be held on Thursday March 16, 2023 to provide a high-level overview of the Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Systems protocol. Registration prior to the event is required and can be made through the following links: 

Background on Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System 

Canada’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Offset Credit System was launched in June 2022 to provide an incentive to undertake projects that result in domestic GHG emissions reductions or removals that would not have been generated in the absence of the project, that go beyond legal requirements and that are not subject to carbon pollution pricing mechanisms. Canada’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Offset Credit System (the GHG Offset Credit System) is among measures that the Government of Canada is taking to reduce domestic emissions by 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and is a key component of Canada’s 2030 Emission Reductions Plan. 

Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System enables project proponents to generate federal offset credits if they register and implement projects meeting requirements in the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations and an applicable federal GHG offset protocol. Offset credits can be sold and used for compliance by facilities covered in the federal Output Based Pricing System or sold and used by others who are looking to meet voluntary climate targets or commitments. 

Offsets & Emissions Trading Section 

Carbon Markets Bureau / Environmental Protection Branch 

Environment and Climate Change Canada / Government of Canada 


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