New study rates Canada among worst polluters in
industrialized world
OTTAWA (AP) - A new study by a leading environmental group
ranks Canada among the worst polluting nations in the
industrialized world, according to 29 key environmental
indicators.
The study, conducted at Simon Fraser University and
released by the David Suzuki Foundation, rates Canada 28th
among 30 countries in the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development.
It puts Canada dead last among the 30 countries in nuclear
waste and carbon monoxide production, and 29th in per
capita water consumption.
European countries such as
Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark
and Germany ranked at the top of the environmental list,
while Canada, Belgium and the United States were at the
bottom.
Suzuki, a geneticist and one of Canada's most respected
environmentalists, said North Americans take their natural
resources for granted while most European countries have
dealt with environmental crises for years. He said
environmental issues need to take a prominent place in the
next federal election, likely early next year.
The study was conducted by an independent team of
multidisciplinary researchers at Simon Fraser University,
under the direction of Dr. Thomas Gunton.
"Our research found Canada's environmental performance to
be surprisingly low," said Gunton. "Canada lags behind in
almost every performance indicator."
Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are two times higher,
and major smog-causing air pollutants are two-to-three
times higher than the average for other industrialized
countries, according to the report by the international
environment watchdog group.
"The ability of other high-income countries, such as
Sweden, to achieve much lower levels of pollution shows it
can be done," Gunton said in a news release. "There's no
excuse - all it requires is a strong commitment from
government."
The study found Canada has shown no improvement over the
last decade. Canada's rank today is the same as it was in
1992: 28th out of 30.
"The Canada we see in this report does not reflect the
one we hold in our hearts," said Suzuki. "Canadians
expect more and they expect better," Suzuki said. "We
should be outraged that we are among the worst in the
industrialized world."
I'm actually kind of shocked by this. I thought Canada was more, erm, correct in this area. Canadians? Weigh in, please?
Canada ranked worst on environment in the west.
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