Canada is a large North American country spanning from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans to the east and west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Since being settled by the British and French Canada has grown in population and GDP and is now considered a highly developed, high-income country. It boasts the tenth-largest economy in the world and is reliant on the service industry (including a large finance sector), mining, manufacturing, and oil-exporting.
Like other highly developed countries, Canada has little air, water, or land pollution. This article will cover these specific areas of pollution in Canada:
Summary of Pollution in Canada
Yale’s Environmental Performance Index report (EPI) of 2020 ranked Canada at 20 of 180 countries in terms of environmental pollution with a score of 71 of 100 total points. Canada received relatively high scores across the board, from air to land pollution metrics.
Download Full Report: Canada EPI Country Profile
As seen in Canada’s country scorecard, Canada performed well above the world average in most metrics evaluated by the EPI. Canada also tends to be around the regional averages for the areas evaluated. The country received high scores in overall air quality but falls behind in ground-level ozone pollution, and wastewater treatment.
Air Pollution in Canada
Overall, Canada’s air quality was ranked at 7 of 180 countries with an excellent score of 94.8 of 100. Canada consistently has some of the cleanest air in the world, especially in the northern regions.
Canada received its lowest air pollution score in the “ozone” metric at 53 of 100. Ground-level ozone is created from vehicle fumes, and industrial emissions and is harmful to human health. If Canada continues its trend of reducing emissions, this score may be brought down for the next evaluation.
Learn more about air quality standards and measurement.
Water Pollution in Canada
Like its air, Canada’s water is not very polluted. Water pollution that does occur is caused by:
- Residential sewage runoff
- Industrial pollutants
- Agricultural runoff
Learn more about water pollution and how it’s measured.
Canada’s Water Quality
Canada has relatively high but not perfect scores for wastewater treatment and drinking water. Almost everyone in the country has access to safe drinking water, and tap water is always safe to drink.
Drinking Water
- Rank: 22/180
- EPI Score: 90.8/100
Wastewater Management
- Rank: 28/180
- EPI Score: 67.4/100
Canada received an uncharacteristically low score in wastewater management. This is because Canada is in some ways lacking infrastructure that deals with wastewater, so runoff from industry, agriculture, and urban areas can pollute lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Land Pollution in Canada
The land is relatively polluted in Canada compared to the water and air. Land pollution is caused by:
- Deforestation
- Agricultural runoff into the soil
- Industrial runoff into the soil
Unfortunately, as Canada begins to grow, it requires more agricultural and urban land, which means deforestation and habitat loss leading to land pollution. As this land is replaced by agriculture and industry, the soil becomes more polluted.
Solid Waste Management
- Ranking: 27/180
- EPI Score: 84.7/100
Ecosystem Services
- Ranking: 110/180
- EPI Score: 30.1/100
The solid waste management and ecosystem services scores indicate both that Canada is lacking in the treatment of solid (mostly industrial) waste, and that the country has experienced significant recent habitat loss.
Key Takeaways
Here’s the big picture of pollution in Australia:
- Overall EPI Ranking: 20/180
- Air Pollution: Very healthy air quality due to extreme recent cutback in emissions.
- Air Pollution Rank: 7/180
- Water Pollution: Most water is safe to drink, but some wastewater is left untreated and pollutes lakes, rivers, and oceans.
- Drinking Water Rank: 22/180
- Wastewater Management Rank: 28/180
- Land Pollution: Decent solid waste management but a significant recent loss of natural habitat leading to increased soil pollution.
- Solid waste management rank: 27/180
- Ecosystem Services rank: 110/180