Environmental issues in Canada
Environmental issues in Canada include impacts of climate change, air and water pollution, mining, logging, and the degradation of natural habitats.
As one of the world's significant emitters of greenhouse gasses,[1] Canada has the potential to make contributions to curbing climate change with its environmental policies and conservation efforts.
[8] Scientists across the world have already started to notice massive reductions in Canada's Arctic sea ice cover, particularly during the summertime.
[15] In the journal, Science, which was published in March 2019, it explains that warmer waters could actually increase fish stocks in certain regions, like the halibut found off the coast of Newfoundland and Greenland but other species such as the Atlantic Cod and albacore tuna might not be able to cope with the conditions so well.
The Canadian federal government, along with provincial authorities, initiated several measures to combat the fires and mitigate their impacts.
[18] The environmental issue of pipelines in Canada is a complex and multi-faceted concern, encompassing potential impacts on both natural ecosystems and human communities.
This financial support was aimed at boosting the economy, but critics often argue it undermines Canada's green recovery efforts by potentially increasing carbon emissions.
From a technical perspective, corrosion, construction defects, and cracking are generally the most commonly identified leading causes of pipeline leaks in Canada, emphasizing the need for robust maintenance and safety protocols.
According to the most recent Living Planet Report Canada, species that are deemed at-risk of extinction have experienced an average population decline of 59% compared to 1970.
[30] The Rainforest Action Network and indigenous groups have campaigned to protect the boreal forest of Canada from logging and mining.
Critics say the current clearcutting and replanting methods contribute to significant forest loss and biodiversity decline, along with releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
[34] The industry minimizes its role in environmental issues by deflecting responsibility on “naturally occurring phenomena” when it comes to fires and forest loss.
The Wilderness Society also states that this leads to countless negative health impacts including, but not limited to, cancer, premature birth, and asthma.
[37] On top of that, the other undetectable toxins being released from orphaned wells gradually poison wldlife habitats, along with air and water.
[38] Typically companies must follow Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) requirements for these abandoned sites.
Air pollution from the United States and to lesser extent Canada; caused by metal smelting, coal-burning for utilities, and vehicle emissions has resulted in acid rain, has severely impacted Canadian waterways, forest growth, and agricultural productivity.
[42] The Aamjiwnaang First Nation community has expressed concern regarding its proximity to chemical plants, as birth rates of their people have been documented by the American journal Environmental Health Perspectives as deviating from the normal ratio of close to 50% boys, 50% girls.
[46] The First Nation is concerned that this abnormal trend is due to adverse effects of maternal and fetal exposure to the effluent and emissions of the nearby chemical plants.
[50] This expansion has led to the clearance or degradation of millions of acres of the Boreal Forests, endangering vital habitats for wildlife.
The Boreal Forests serve as a massive carbon sink, however with these areas rapidly being destroyed there are even more concerns around air pollution and water contamination.
Additionally, these extraction sites violate Indigenous rights as tar sands encroach on traditional lands, causing environmental contamination and health issues.
[52] While around 150 Nations have signed a Treaty against Tar Sands Expansion, Canadian governments continue to support these projects, posing a threat to Indigenous lands and the environment.
[55] Despite this demographic accounting for only 5.0% of the total population, there has been a pattern where most of the toxic, polluting industries and corporations are located directly adjacent to indigenous communities.
[55][56] This has placed a disproportionately high environmental burden on these communities, exposing indigenous peoples to the health risks that are associated with these polluting facilities more so than other Canadian citizens.
[56] Members of this community believe that the air, water, and soil pollution from these chemical facilities has contributed to higher rates of asthma and cancer amongst its residents.
