Draft Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere

Public consultation from September 11 to October 26, 2024

The Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere (RMRCECA) makes it possible to obtain data used under the cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances (C&T system). However, in order to ensure that the C&T system is functioning properly, some changes must be made to the RMRCECA.

The main changes proposed in the Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere (PDF, 228 KB) are as follows:

• The Regulation respecting the quantity of gas from renewable sources to be delivered by a distributor requires natural gas distributors to reach 10% biomethane in their distribution networks by 2030. To ensure the integrity of the carbon market and of Québec’s GHG emissions inventory, several changes are required. These are designed to prevent emitters from buying "green attributes" that are not recognized by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP). In particular, the proposed changes aim to ensure that biomethane volumes:
  • Are biogenic in nature (origin and production method);
  • Are injected into a natural gas network physically connected to a Québec distributor’s network or injected directly into a Québec distributor’s network;
  • Are only sold once (single use of biogenic attributes, no double counting of volumes).
• Protocol QC.17: Emission factors must be updated annually to take account of changes in the thermal power plants of the provinces and U.S. states where the imported electricity comes from.
• Changes are planned to add a submission deadline when a report must be verified a second time, and to specify a threshold above which a visit by the auditing firm becomes mandatory when there are changes relating to GHG emissions sources.

Please note that an administrative version (French, PDF, 296 KB) of the proposed amendments is also available if required.

This draft regulation is currently the subject of a 45-day public consultation. All interested parties may submit their comments in writing by October 26, 2024, to the following address:

Ms. Vicky Leblond, Director
Direction des inventaires et de la gestion des halocarbures
Direction générale de la réglementation carbone et des données d’émission
Ministère de de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
Marie-Guyart Building, 10^th Floor, Box 30
675 René-Lévesque Blvd. East
Québec (Québec)  G1R 5V7
Email: vicky.leblond@environnement.gouv.qc.ca

Additional information concerning this draft regulation may be obtained by contacting:

Mr. Olivier Lacroix, Eng.
Direction des inventaires et de la gestion des halocarbures
Direction générale de la réglementation carbone et des données d’émission
Ministère de de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
Email: olivier.lacroix@environnement.gouv.qc.ca