Posted on 01/17/2013 8:13:14 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Canadians produce more garbage than anyone else
Conference Board calls Canada an 'environmental laggard'
Canadians use far too much energy and water, and they produce more garbage per capita than any other country on earth, a report from an influential think-tank says.
The Conference Board of Canada gave Canada a C grade on Thursday and ranked it in 15th place among 17 developed nations studied across a host of environmental-efficiency metrics.
"Our large land mass, cold climate and resource-intensive economy make us less likely to rank highly on some indicators of environmental sustainability, but many of our poor results are based on our inefficient use of our resources," said Len Coad, the board's director of energy, environment and technology policy.
Poor marks on garbage, water
The Conference Board measured air pollution, garbage production, energy consumption, water usage and many other factors across 17 developed economies around the world.
While Canada earned a few A grades in categories such as water quality, endangered species and the use of forest resources, overall the country scored a D average.
The 15th-place ranking put Canada only ahead of the U.S. and Australia in the ranking.
The board noted that those three countries have a few factors in common to help explain their comparatively dismal results: they have the largest land masses in the survey, and they have the most resource-dependent economies in the OECD.
Canada fared dismally in terms of the amount of waste we produce. In 2009 (the data year on which the study was based), Canada produced 777 kilograms of garbage per citizen. Across all 17 countries studied, the average was only 578 kg produced.
The numbers show that Canada produces more than twice as much garbage, per person, than Japan, the best country on the ranking in that category, which made only 377 kilograms per person that year.
Canada also fared poorly in use of our vast water resources. On average Canadians use twice as much water as do the residents of the other developed economies on the list. Indeed, we use nine times more water than people in the best country on that metric do, Denmark.
Canada's vast water resources encourage wasteful use, the board suggests.
"Excessive water withdrawals in Canada can be attributed to the lack of widespread water conservation practices and water pricing that does not promote efficiency," the board said.
The report found Canadians use 1,131 cubic metres per capita of water per year. The only country that uses more water is the United States, which consumes 1,632 cubic metres per capita.
The board gives Canadians credit for some progress on the water issue in their day to day lives — Canadian people cut their water use from 335 litres per day in 2001 to 327 litres per day in 2006, but increased use from industries caused far more water to be consumed in the country overall.
And overall, the quality of Canada's water supply was above-average. Canada ranked fourth in that category with an A grade. Overall, however, the report doesn't paint a pretty picture for a country that often prides itself on its vast natural resources.
"Canada must promote economic growth without further degrading the environment," Coad said. "Encouraging more sustainable consumption is crucial to achieve that objective."
Paging Al Gore ... paging Al Gore ...
Long hot showers are not a waste of water.
I didn’t check but dose it say witch country uses the least water?
NOBODY produces as much garbage as the Obama regime. Nobody.
Big country, small population (34,994,000), lots of space and water, who cares? As I always like to say, we are all drinking Dinosaur pee.
Canada, their middle name is ‘trouble’.
It is no wonder that their comedians flee to the US.
Does that include Justin Bieber?
Eh, we have the world’s largest supply of fresh water, so I am going to go have a long shower heh.
Canada Ping!
The thing is the Canadians do not waste water.
They have it it is part of a natural cycle. If they don’t use it it does not mean that someone in a desert somewhere is suddenly going to have water.
Think about it. Not using it means it runs into the sea and becomes to salty to use.
This is simply feeling guilty over having enough
Hollywood comes in close behind.
True, And Nickleback. But they also produced Devin Townsend and the Birthday Massacre...and Rush...so I forgive them for Beebs.
Nickleback though, there can be no forgiveness.
I have traveled all over Canada and never seen things wasted or things trashed.
Look at a topographical map of Canada. Does anyone seriously believe Canada is going to run out of fresh water any time in the next thousand years or so? Even if the average Canadian quadrupled the amount of water they use every day of their lives, I doubt they’d run out of water.
“I didn’t check but does it say witch country uses the least water?”
Denmark
“Canadians Produce More Garbage Than Anyone Else
jennifer m. granholm “
How about the entire Province of Quebec? What a passel of insufferable prigs!
I didn't check either, but they probably smell. ;-)
Oh geez, I thought this post was about Canadian beer...
Exactly. Water is a localized resource. It doesn’t make any sense to spend a lot of energy trying to conserve it in most parts of Canada.
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