Figure 1: Manitoba GHG emissions – 1990-2020 – Transportation
In 2020, transportation accounted for the largest portion (about 37%) of Manitoba’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (1).
- This includes the fuel used as we drive ourselves around and the fuel used to transport goods we buy.
- It does not include most of our air travel. Only air travel within the province is included in the inventory.
The figures on this page show how Manitoba’s GHG emissions from transportation have changed from 1990 to 2020.
To download a PDF file with the data, click here:
Manitoba_GHG_trend_chart_1990-2020_transportation.pdf (135 KB)
Figure 1 shows that from 1990 to 2020, GHG emissions from road transportation increased by 65%. (1) (Note a drop in 2020 due to COVID travel restrictions.)
During this time, two key shifts occurred:
Cars to SUVs
Figure 2: Manitoba GHG emissions – 1990-2020 – Cars to SUVs
Figure 2: From 1990 to 2020 there has been a shift from cars to SUVs:
- 44% decrease in gasoline car use (i.e. Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles)
- 133% increase in van, SUV, & half-ton use (i.e. Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks).
This means the emissions from van, SUV, & half-ton vehicles in 2020 were about 2 1/3 times what they were in 1990 while emissions from cars decreased by almost half.
Increase in semi-trailer trucks
Figure 3: Manitoba GHG emissions – 1990-2020 – Trucks & Trains
Figure 3: From 1990 to 2020 there has been a dramatic increase in the use of semi-trailer trucks (i.e. Heavy-Duty Diesel + Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles) to transport goods.
There was a shift from railways to trucks between 1990 and 2002. However, since 2002 emissions from rail transport has also increased.
From 1990 to 2020, there has been a 210% increase in heavy-duty (i.e. diesel & gasoline semi-trailer) trucks. In other words, we were using semi-trailer trucks over 3 times as much as we were in 1990.
