Lag Between Environmental Awareness, Green Practices Observed Among Canadians

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - Two new studies made by Statistics Canada showed that half of the greenhouse gas emissions across the country were made by Canadian households. While the second study showed a high level of awareness when it comes to environmental issues, there was a lag when it came to practicing environmental consciousness.

It observed that while 45 percent of Canadians consider themselves as very environmentally active and another 45 percent are moderately active, only 30 percent compost. Other green practices made by Canadians include using fluorescent light bulbs done by 59 percent, installing low-flow showerheads 56 percent, reducing the thermostat 54 percent and using less toilet water 37 percent.

From 1990 to 2004, Canadian households contributed to 13 percent of the 24.5 percent rise in greenhouse gas emissions recorded across the country made through the use of motor fuel, buying produce sent from far locations, failing to reduce the thermostat setting, dining in restaurants, staying in hotels and purchasing motor lubricant.

Adria Vaaseil, an environmental author, pointed out that while the data showed Canadians have initiated several measures to become green, they steps they have taken are considered tiny ones which may not be sufficient to save the planet.

Meanwhile, another step added was the holding of the first meeting of the Canadian Biochar Initiative last week. It involves baking biological matter like wood chips, manure, stalks, leaks and other crop residues minus oxygen to produce methane, oils and charcoal. Then the charcoal is ground and mixed with farm soil.

The process, called prolysis, locks 50 percent of the carbons into the charcoal and removes it out of the greenhouse equation for thousands of years. The traditional method of burning biological matter release carbon dioxide, which adds to the global warming.