Environmental Quality Improving in Canada
Contact:
Laura Jones, Director of Environmental Studies
The Fraser Institute, (604) 714-4547, Email: lauraj@fraserinstitute.caRelease Date: 27 March 1997
Vancouver, BC>>> Negative public perception of environmental quality at odds with the facts
Vancouver, B.C. >>> The Fraser Institute released today a ground-breaking study that shatters the perception that environmental quality is deteriorating in Canada.
Environmental Indicators for Canada and the United States shows that in most instances objectives for protecting human health and the environment are being met, pollution and wastes are being controlled, and resources and land are being sustained and managed effectively.
The 70-page study, developed in conjunction with the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy of San Fransisco, includes a composite index which demonstrates that environmental performance in both the U.S. and Canada is improving, not deteriorating.
"There have been significant improvements in many areas of the environment since the first Earth Day was held in 1970," said Laura Jones, author of the report and Environment Economist at the Fraser Institute. "The public, however, continues to believe that environmental quality is deteriorating rapidly."
Public Opinion and the Environment
Several years ago sociologist Robert Nisbet wrote: "It is entirely possible that when the history of the 20th century is finally written, the single most important social movement of the period will be judged to be environmentalism."
Evidence supporting this sentiment is abundant. According to a 1993 poll conducted in the United States, 75 percent of Americans believe that "problems regarding pollution and the environment will get significantly worse during [their] lifetime[s]." Results of another poll indicate that 77.6 percent of Americans and 77.2 percent of Canadians believe that "within the next 10 years, there will be a large increase in ill-health in [their] nation's cities as a result of air pollution caused by cars."
Over three-quarters of respondents in both nations agreed "government should pass laws to make ordinary people protect the environment, even if it interferes with people's rights to make their own decisions", and over 90 percent think that government should pass similar laws interfering with businesses' rights.
State of the Environment: Things are Improving
Environmental Indicators attempts to separate fact from alarmist misinformation and bring balance to the environmental debate. "These indicators are designed to help the public better assess and understand the state of the environment in several key areas: air quality, wwater quality, natural resources, land use and condition, solid wastes, energy, pesticides, toxic releases and wildlife," said Jones. The study shows that:
- Overall environmental quality has improved 16.3 percent in the U.S. and 15.6 percent in Canada since 1980.
- Air pollution from sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, suspended particulates, and lead has decreased by 41.5 percent in Canada and 42 percent in the U.S. since 1980.
- The ambient level of sulphur dioxide decreased by 50.3 percent in the U.S. and 54.5 percent in Canada between 1975 and 1993.
- Ambient lead concentration fell 97.1 percent in the U.S. and 96.9 percent in Canada between 1975 and 1992.
- In 1990, 82 percent of the lakes tested in the U.S. met swimmable objectives.
- In 1994, Alberta and Saskatchewan met their water quality goals over 90 percent of the time. British Columbia and New Brunswick met their goals over 85 percent of the time. Manitoba met its goals over 70 percent of the time.
- Pesticides (DDE, PCB, HCB, ...) fell almost 85 percent in both Lake Ontario and Lake Superior from peak levels in 1975.
- Forests are increasing, as growth exceeds harvest in both the U.S. and Canada.
- The amount of land set aside for parks, wilderness, and wildlife is increasing in both the U.S. and Canada.
- The amount of toxic chemicals exposed to the environment is decreasing.
- Critical wetland habitat is not declining.
Objectives of the Compendium
Environmental Indicators is designed to give Canadians an overview of national environmental quality in the U.S. and Canada. While the indicators include many local or regional environmental issues, such as the air quality of selected cities, the overall goal is to provide a "big picture" of general, nation-wide environmental trends in both countries. The authors do not attempt to develop indicators for global controversies such as tropical rainforest deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity.
Most of the data in the report come from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Environmental Data Compendium 1995. Where OECD survey results were unavailable, data were supplemented by information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environment Canada, and other official government sources.
Established in 1974, The Fraser Institute is an independent public policy organization based in Vancouver.
For further information contact:
Suzanne Walters, Director of Communications,
The Fraser Institute, (604) 714-4582,
Email suzannew@fraserinstitute.ca
info@fraserinstitute.ca
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