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Shape up, Canada
We hate to admit it, but Canada is like a former star athlete who has grown obese and smokes four packs of cigarettes a day. Just as bad habits lead to ill health, Canada's gluttonous energy use has led to deplorable environmental conditions, like smog, climate change and degraded wilderness areas. It’s time to kick our bad habits and get in shape!
An extensive 1999 study analyzed the environmental performances of 29 countries belonging to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Out of the 29 member countries surveyed, Canada finished 28th overall. That’s bad news for a country that prides itself on its wilderness and environmental stewardship. But things can change.
This spring, the David Suzuki Foundation published Sustainability within a Generation: A New Vision for Canada written by leading environmental thinker and author, David Boyd. The report outlines how we can become a world leader in sustainable living and environmental protection by the year 2030. Think of it as a self-improvement plan for Canada.
Becoming more sustainable doesn’t mean compromising our standard of living. It means stimulating new economic activities that produce what we want without destroying the environment. In a sustainable Canada, businesses looking for the "green"edge would flourish. We would use resources more efficiently and pollute less while saving money on health care costs and improving our quality of life.
How do we get there? Sustainability within a Generation details the targets, timelines, and policies that will help us use our natural resources more efficiently and protect the wilderness we value. This action plan will replace our reliance on dirty fossil fuels with newer, cleaner forms of energy. In turn, it will improve our health and stimulate an innovative and vibrant economy.