Legislation
Amendments to the Environment Act allow government to create the cap-and-trade program and regulations to support it.
Cap-and-trade program regulations
The Cap-and-Trade Program Regulations and framework document outline how the program works. They include greenhouse gas emission caps, rules for distributing, buying and selling greenhouse gas allowances, and other details.
Reporting emissions and participating in cap and trade
The following types of companies must report their greenhouse gas emissions, get them verified by a third party, and participate in the cap-and-trade program:
- Facilities that generate 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions or more per year from one or more specified activities
- Petroleum product suppliers that first place or produce 200 litres of fuel or more per year for consumption in the Nova Scotia market
- Natural gas distributers that deliver natural gas for consumption in Nova Scotia that, when combusted, produces 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions or more per year
- Electricity importers with 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions or more per year from imported electricity consumed in Nova Scotia
Reporting regulations
The rules for reporting greenhouse gas emissions are outlined in:
- Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
- Amendments to Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
- Standards for Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
How to report
- Companies must submit greenhouse gas emissions reports and any additional information listed in the regulations and standards to Nova Scotia Environment at GHGreporting@novascotia.ca.
- Greenhouse gas emissions reports must be verified by an accredited third-party organization. Lists of eligible verification bodies are available at:
Reporting deadlines
In 2019, the deadline for submitting greenhouse gas emissions reports and verification statements are:
- June 1, 2019 – report for 2018
- September 1, 2019 – verification for 2018
Starting in 2020, greenhouse gas emissions reports and verification statements/reports will be due on May 1.
- May 1, 2020 – report and verification for 2019
- May 1, 2021 – report and verification for 2020
- May 1, 2022 – report and verification for 2021
- May 1, 2023 – report and verification for 2022
Registration
Participating companies must register for the cap-and-trade program in the Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS) by March 31, 2019. More details about the registration process will be posted soon.
Gas and diesel
Amendments to the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulations allow the Utility and Review Board to apply the carbon price to gas and diesel.