Environmental Quality On the Rise in North America and the United Kingdom
Contact:
Laura Jones, Director of Environmental Studies
The Fraser Institute, (604) 714-4547, Email: lauraj@fraserinstitute.caRelease Date: 19 April 1999
Vancouver, BC>>> The Fraser Institute today released a ground-breaking study, Environmental Indicators for North America and the United Kingdom, that shatters the misconception that environmental quality is deteriorating in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
The study proves 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.
"There have been dramatic improvements in environmental quality since the first Earth Day was held in 1970," says Laura Jones, the report’s author and Director of Environmental Studies at The Fraser Institute. "The public, however, continues to believe that environmental quality is deteriorating rapidly. This false perception is actually harmful to the environment because it prevents people from focusing resources on the most serious environmental problems. Alarmism is never a sound basis for public policy.
Contrary to public fears that environmental quality would decline following the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), trade has proven to be beneficial to the environment. While Mexico’s environmental indicators remain stable, environmental quality in Canada and the United States has consistently improved since 1980.
State of the Environment: Things are Improving
In addition to the overall index of environmental quality, the report includes indicators designed to help the public assess more accurately the state of the environment in several key areas: air quality, water quality, natural resources, land use and condition, solid wastes, energy, pesticides, toxic releases, and wildlife.
The study finds that:
- Overall, environmental quality improved 10.8 percent in Canada and 18.6 percent in the United States and 10.4 percent in the United Kingdom, relative to conditions in 1980.
- Mexico, overall environmental quality remained the same relative to conditions in 1990, with some indicators showing deterioration and others showing improvement.
- Air pollution from sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates, and lead has decreased considerably in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
- The ambient level of sulphur dioxide decreased by 61.5 percent in Canada and 60.7 percent in the United States between 1975 and 1995. The ambient level of sulphur dioxide decreased 92 percent between 1976 and 1996 in the United Kingdom. In Mexico, ambient levels of sulphur dioxide in Mexico City decreased 50 percent between 1988 and 1996.
- Ambient lead concentration fell 99.9 percent both in Canada and in the United States between 1976 and 1994. Ambient lead concentrations fell 90.1 percent between 1980 and 1995 in the United Kingdom. In Mexico, ambient lead concentrations fell 82.5 percent between 1990 and 1995.
- In 1994, over 90 percent of the lakes tested in the United States supported overall use (?).
- In 1995, Alberta and Saskatchewan met their water quality goals over 90 percent of the time; British Columbia and New Brunswick met their goals over 80 percent of the time; Manitoba met its goals over 70 percent of the time.
- Concentrations of the pesticide DDE have fallen over 75 percent in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, over 80 percent in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and 90 percent in Lake Huron since 1977.
- Forests are increasing in North America and the United Kingdom as the amount of growth exceeds the harvesting of trees.
- The amount of land set aside for parks, wilderness, and wildlife is increasing in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.
- The amount of toxic chemicals exposed to the environment is decreasing in Canada and the United States.
- Critical wetland habitat is not declining in North America.
The 100-page study, developed in conjunction with the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy of San Francisco, and the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, England, includes a composite index which demonstrates that environmental performance in North America and the United Kingdom is improving, not deteriorating. "The index is a feature unique to this report. It provides a barometer by which to gauge whether overall whether overall environmental quality is improving or declining," says Jones. "It is the environmental equivalent of GDP."
The goal of this study is to provide a "big picture" of general, nationwide environmental trends in these countries. It does not attempt to develop indicators for global controversies such as tropical rainforest deforestation, climate change, and bio-diversity.
The Relative Severity of Environmental Problems in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Established in 1974, The Fraser Institute is an independent public policy organization based in Vancouver.
For further information, or for a copy of Environmental Indicators 1999, contact:
Suzanne Walters, Director of Communications, The Fraser Institute, Telephone (604) 714-4582, Email suzannew@fraserinstitute.ca, or read it online here.
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