Calgary is getting top marks for its water conservation, but a failing grade for air pollution.

According to the Siemens' Green Cities Index, Calgarians consume 429 litres of water per person, per day.  

That is well below the average of 587 litres.

However, when it comes to nitrogen oxide emissions, Calgarians pump out more than 50 kilograms per person each year; twice the index average.

Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada John Bennett says he's not surprised that Calgary is doing a great job managing water use because local politicians realize it's a resource that is dwindling.

Bennett says the survey also shows Calgary's love affair with the automobile.

He says we can rein in their air-polluting ways by stopping urban sprawl and improving public transit.
 

What is Fracking?

One method of natural gas exploration, hydraulic fracturing (or, fracking) poses a growing threat to Canadian fresh water resources here in Atlantic Canada. Fracking involves the drilling of a bore vertically and horizontally into shale or coal-bed deposits. The vertical bore is extended horizontally into the shale bed to maximize shale use. The tail of the horizontal pipe is perforated, allowing for the injection of fracking fluid into the shale bed. Sandor ceramic beads suspended in the fluid (called "proppants") hold open the cracks in the shale bed, allowing the natural gas to navigate back to the surface for recovery.
 

By Dan McDermott, Chapter Director

Premier Dalton McGuinty’s commitment to enact a Great Lakes Protection Act (GLPA) was the one new environmental commitment put forward by the Liberals during last fall’s election. The environmental community responded positively to the pledge while noting that the funding component mentioned by the Premier was a modest one. It was also noted that the commitment contained no specifics as to what McGuinty saw as priority Great Lakes issues.