Canadian Solar Inc
Canadian Solar's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2023, Canadian Solar completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
Canadian Solar has also provided a category-level breakdown for 4 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Unspecified Calculation Method | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
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aVerified Sources Behind Canadian Solar’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
Every figure on this dashboard has a transparent audit trail. With Tracenable, each data point is traceable back to its original source, viewable directly inside our platform. Explore Canadian Solar’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into Canadian Solar's Operational Emissions
In 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Canadian Solar amounted to 2,329,273 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2). a
Compared to 2022, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Canadian Solar increased by 80.39%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations. a
Canadian Solar's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Canadian Solar's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2023, the total Scope 1 emissions of Canadian Solar were 54,982 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has Canadian Solar reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2021, Canadian Solar's Scope 1 emissions have increased by 20.94%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a b
Compared to the previous year (2022), Canadian Solar's Scope 1 emissions decreased by 27.32%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower direct emissions from assets it owns or controls. a
What are Canadian Solar's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 2,260,125 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 2,274,291 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has Canadian Solar reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Compared to the previous year (2022), Canadian Solar's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) rose by 87.09% in 2023, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from purchased electricity and energy a
What methodology does Canadian Solar use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method. a
Canadian Solar's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
- Total Scope 2 (Unspecified Calculation Method)
Insights into Canadian Solar's Value Chain Emissions
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported 803,362 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain. a
The 2023 disclosure of Canadian Solar includes a breakdown across 4 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, up from 2 in 2022, reflecting improved emissions accounting practices and greater transparency across the company's value chain a
Canadian Solar's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Canadian Solar's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported total Scope 3 emissions of 803,362 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 90% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 10% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. a
Has Canadian Solar reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2021, Canadian Solar's Scope 3 emissions have increased by 254.67%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time. a b
Compared to the previous year (2022), Canadian Solar's Scope 3 emissions increased by 213.6%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions across its value chain. a
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does Canadian Solar disclose?
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported emissions for 4 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
The limited disclosure restricts visibility into specific emission sources across the company's value chain.
What are the main sources of Canadian Solar's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, the largest contributors to Canadian Solar's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Upstream Transportation and Distribution (Cat. 4): 604,718 tCO₂e (75.27%)
- Downstream Transportation and Distribution (Cat. 9): 111,649 tCO₂e (13.9%)
- Downstream Leased Assets (Cat. 13): 80,334 tCO₂e (10%)
Canadian Solar's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into Canadian Solar’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 54,982 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 7,614 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 7.22 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
Canadian Solar's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does Canadian Solar's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 7.22 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 4.87 , this places the company above its industry benchmark, indicating it is less carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does Canadian Solar rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2023, Canadian Solar ranked 14 out of 22 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
Canadian Solar is therefore positioned in the mid-range of its industry, neither a clear leader nor a laggard in carbon efficiency. a
Insights into Canadian Solar's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2023, Canadian Solar reported a total carbon footprint of 3,132,635 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 102.44% increase compared to 2022, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain. a
The largest contributor to Canadian Solar's total carbon footprint was Scope 2 emissions, accounting for 72.6% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 3 emissions at 25.64%. a