Canada’s environmental performance has been a cause for concern as it ranked second last among “Global West” countries and 29th globally in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) released by Yale University in July. The ranking, based on 47 environmental indicators from carbon emissions to habitat protection, highlighted Canada’s weaknesses in climate change, protected lands, and fishing.
Despite scoring 57.78 out of 100, below the global and “Global West” averages, Canada has shown slight improvements in marine and terrestrial habitat protection and emissions trends. The country’s climate change policy ranking was 45th, with a notable improvement compared to a decade ago. However, Canada’s performance in greenhouse gas emissions per capita was concerning, ranking 133rd.
Estonia, the top performer in the EPI, achieved its high ranking by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shale oil power generation. Other leading countries like Denmark and Norway excelled in emissions reduction and environmental health, respectively, benefiting from strong environmental regulations and frameworks.
The EPI results highlight the need for Canada to enhance its climate policies and set new goals to address its environmental challenges. With two-thirds of countries showing improvement over the past decade, there is still ample room for Canada and other nations to enhance their environmental performance through data-driven policy-making.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent policy decisions, including dropping the consumer carbon price, have raised concerns about Canada’s future environmental performance. As the country navigates a climate policy transition period, experts emphasize the importance of adopting effective strategies to improve environmental outcomes and strive for a more sustainable future.