TORONTO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s environmental record ranks in the top ten among comparable high-income countries around the world, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank.
“As Earth Day approaches, it’s important to acknowledge that Canada has an excellent environmental record when stacked up against the world’s richest, cleanest and most developed countries,” said Ross McKitrick, economics professor at the University of Guelph, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of Environmental Ranking for Canada and the OECD .
The study ranks 33 high-income countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on a wide range of environmental indicators that relate both to the protection of human health, such as air pollution, and the preservation of Canada’s ecosystems, such as water quality.
Canada ranks 10 th overall with a score of 68.5 out of a possible 100.0—well above the OECD average (62.9). Notably, many of the top ranked countries are clustered closely together. For example, Canada (10 th ) and 3 rd place New Zealand (which scored 73.8) are only five points apart. Sweden ranks 1 st overall with a score of 78.9.
On some important measures, including health risks posed by water pollution (3 rd ), air quality (9 th ) and low-emitting electricity production (6 th ) Canada ranks particularly high.
These results are especially impressive considering that, compared to the other OECD countries, Canada is much larger and colder (which means more fuel consumption and emissions) and has a large natural resources industry.
“The reality is most wealthy, developed countries have established sound environmental protection systems, and Canada compares very favourably when stacked up against the best performers in the world,” McKitrick said.
“Despite what some critics claim, Canada’s environment is well-protected, especially on measures that directly affect the personal health of Canadians.”
MEDIA CONTACT : Ross McKitrick, Senior Fellow Fraser Institute
Kenneth Green, Senior Director, Natural Resource Studies Fraser Institute
To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact: Bryn Weese, Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute Tel: (604) 688-0221 ext. 589 E-mail: bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org
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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org
