We have good intentions, but progress is slow

• Our water use is more efficient, down 9% over two years from 2006 to 2008 but use varies considerably between municipalities.
  Metro Vancouver
• Three-quarters of residents choose the tap over bottled water, up 10% from 2006. The top reasons for this choice were cost and convenience, with only 11% citing environmental reasons.
  Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Survey

The good news we are producing less waste per capita as our population continues to rise.

• Waste was 1.5 tonnes per capita in 2008, down from 1.6 tonnes the previous year.
• A total of 56% of our waste is diverted from the landfill. Metro Vancouver’s target is 70% by 2015, so there is still a ways to go.

Metro Vancouver

More greenhouse gases

• Greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase in our region. Between 2005 to 2007, emissions went up 8% at a time when the BC government committed to reducing emissions. (The provincial goal for 2020: reduce emissions 33% from 2007 levels.)
• Our vehicles make up the bulk of emissions at 55%, while buildings contribute 41%. Our emissions rate from vehicles is on par with Montreal but better than Toronto and Calgary.

Ministry of Environment Community Energy and Emissions Inventory and Community Foundations of Canada

• Nine out of ten residents say the choices we make as individuals can improve the quality of our environment. However, we are more pessimistic than people in Toronto and Montreal, with 20% believing that quality of our environment is deteriorating.
• One-fifth say expense is the biggest barrier to reducing our environmental impact.
  Environics Research, Canadian Environmental Barometer 2010 Vital Signs National Survey