The Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) was implemented July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2017. The Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation (CCIR) replaced the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation on January 1, 2018.

The Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation replaces the Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation (CCIR) on January 1, 2020. Updated regulations and publications are available on the Government of Alberta website at:

The TIER regulation applies to facilities that emitted 100,000 tonnes CO2e or more per year of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in 2016, or a subsequent year.

A facility with less than 100,000 tonnes CO2e per year may be eligible to opt-in to the TIER if it competes against a facility regulated under the TIER regulation, or emits 10,000 tonnes CO2e or more per year and belongs to a sector with high emissions intensity and trade exposure.

The owner of two or more conventional oil and gas facilities may apply to have those facilities regulated under the TIER regulation by applying to form a conventional oil and gas facility aggregate. More information for conventional oil and gas facilities is available at Conventional Oil and Gas. Facility owners may also be eligible to receive economic relief under the Compliance Cost Containment Program. Details are found within the GoA web listing above.

Passed in 2003, Alberta's Climate Change and Emissions Management Act was the first legislation pertaining to climate change in Canada. The Act recognizes Alberta's need for a sustainable environment and wise management of natural resources.

Innovative technologies that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, and the establishment of target emissions, are to be developed without impairing economic growth. The Climate Change and Emissions Management Act is being replaced with the Emissions Management and Climate Resilience Act (EMCRA) on January 1, 2020.  In order to meet the reduction targets, regulated facilities have the following compliance options:

1.    Reduce internal on-site Emissions;
2.    Contribute to the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Fund;
3.    Purchase and use Alberta-based Emission Offsets;
4.    Purchase or use Emission Performance Credits;

The Alberta Emissions Offset Registry (AEOR) and the Alberta Emission Performance Credit (EPC) Registry, as operated by CSA Group in coordination with the Government of Alberta, provides the infrastructure to support the ability for regulated facilities to be compliant with the Regulation through the transparent display of Alberta-based emission offsets and Emission Performance Credits. These essential registries track ownership of credits to demonstrate facility-level compliance with carbon reductions outlined within the Act and Regulation, and ensures traceability and transparency of the process.

The purchase of Alberta-based emission offsets is one of the compliance options for regulated entities under the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation in Alberta. This compliance mechanism is issued, tracked and managed by the Alberta Emissions Offset Registry (AEOR) using an online, publically accessible, platform. The AEOR lists all projects and emission offsets that have been created and as applicable, used for compliance under the Act since its inception in 2007. 

The standard unit for all GHG credit registries is, one carbon offset credit (emission offset) represents a one-tonne reduction or sequestration in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions expressed in CO2e, resulting from an independently verified project activity. Offset projects range in scope and involve implementation of new management practices, technology and/or control systems that reduce or remove emissions of a given process. All projects listed on the AEOR must meet system requirements as outlined in the Standard for Greenhouse Gas Emission Offset Project Developers.

Allowing regulated facilities to use market-based compliance tools such as emission offsets creates incentive for Albertans from all areas of the economy to innovate and invest in activities that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions - from farmers to municipalities to small renewable energy industry developers.

All participants to the Alberta emission offset system are responsible for the review and application of the Act, Regulation, and Standard requirements.  Emission offsets are revocable under the Regulation. To find out more about the Alberta Emission Offset System and view the AEOR, please click the link below:

The purchase or use of Emission Performance Credits (EPCs) is one of the compliance options for regulated entities under the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation in Alberta. This compliance credit is tracked and managed by the Registry using the online and publically viewable EPC platform.

EPCs are credits generated by regulated facilities that have reduced below their reduction targets specified in the Regulation. These are represented as one tonne of CO2e reduced is equal to one EPC credit. EPC credits are revocable licenses which can be banked or sold, and ultimately retired by facilities subject to the Regulation to meet their reduction targets.

In order for facilities and associated companies to manage, purchase, or use EPCs, they must create a user account and register their facilities on the Alberta EPC Registry. The issuance of EPC credits is from the Government of Alberta before the EPC credits can be used as a compliance option.
To find out more about the Alberta EPC registry please click the link below: