Numbers game

By Steve Brearton
Illustration: Seth

Carbon nation 2010

1 Estimated size of the North American carbon market in 2020 in trillions of US dollars, according to a British carbon consulting company.

9.50 Value of a one-tonne carbon credit in dollars during the Montreal Climate Exchange’s first carbon trade in June 2008.

10 Years that Suncor Energy contracted with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. in 1998 to provide carbon credits. The deal, valued at up to $1 million annually, ended after the first year when Suncor decided the Canadian carbon market wasn’t mature enough.

15 Dollars that Alberta companies must pay into a clean technology fund for every tonne of carbon generated if they don’t meet provincial targets for reducing their carbon footprint. Firms can also buy credits in an Alberta market.

47 Percentage of Canadian executives in June 2008 who said they somewhat or strongly opposed Canada’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases through the Kyoto accord.

2,000 to 3,000 Estimated additional annual income in dollars that western Canadian farmers with an average 1,100-acre spread could generate through the sale of carbon credits by adopting more efficient farming practices.

34,370 Tonnes of emission offsets bought by the BC government’s Pacific Carbon Trust from provincial businesses as of July 2009 to help meet the government’s goal of a carbon-neutral public sector by 2010.