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CBC News
Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:19:06 EDT

Canada is one of the worst environmental performers in the industrialized world and has shown no improvement over the past decade, a new study says.

The report, researched at Simon Fraser University and released by the David Suzuki Foundation, ranked Canada 28th out of 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The ranking was based on what the study described as 29 key environmental indicators.

For example, Canada placed 28th in energy consumption, 26th in greenhouse gas emissions, 29th in water consumption, 27th in sulphur oxides pollution, and 30th in nuclear waste and carbon monoxide.

“Our research found Canada’s environmental performance to be surprisingly low,” said Thomas Gunton, who headed the research team. “Canada lags behind in almost every performance indicator.”

European countries such as Switzerland, Denmark and Germany ranked at the top of the environmental list, while Belgium and the United States joined Canada at the bottom.

Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are two times higher than the average for other industrialized countries. Major smog-causing air pollutants are two-to-three times higher.

The study found Canada has shown no improvement over the past decade. Canada’s rank today is the same as it was in 1992.

There were a couple of brighter notes. Canada ranked ninth in recycling and eighth in pesticide use.

“The Canada we see in this report does not reflect the one we hold in our hearts,” Suzuki said. “Canadians expect more and they expect better. We should be outraged that we are among the worst in the industrialized world.”

Suzuki wants the federal government to pass a National Sustainability Act, which would require Canada to set out targets and timelines to improve the country’s environmental performance.