In 2023 the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) carried out a greenhouse gas inventory of the entire region. While data was available for 2020, 2019 was chosen as a more representative year due to the COVID pandemic. The RDOS region total emissions are on a trajectory to be 10.4% lower in 2030 vs. 2007 levels. This can be compared to regional and national targets. B.C. has legislated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 2007 levels by 2030. Canada has a new target of reducing 40-45% below 2005 by 2030.  

Greenhouse gas emissions can be looked at in two ways: by sector (vehicles, residential buildings, commercial buildings and waste) or by source (mobility fuels, electricity, natural gas, wood, heating oil, propane and waste). By source the RDOS community emissions are dominated by mobility fuels (gasoline & diesel), followed by natural gas at 28.4%. Waste contributes 12.8% to the RDOS region’s greenhouse gas emissions.

When you examine emissions by source, mobility fuels make up more than 50% of emissions. While the community uses equal amounts of energy from electricity and natural gas, hydro-powered electricity means that natural gas dominates emissions at just under 30%. While wood, heating oil and propane can be a large contributor to greenhouse gasses, they are used in small amounts in the RDOS region with negligible contribution. Waste creates about 12% of the greenhouse gas emissions. 

The RDOS region is home to two large industry emitters, the Copper Mountain Mine and the Weyerhaeuser Princeton Sawmill. They emit 17-18% of the total community emissions. Both industries have targets to reduce emissions: Copper Mountain to half greenhouse gas intensity by 2030 and Weyerhauser to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 42% by 2030.