It does not attempt to develop indicators for global controversies such as tropical rainforest deforestation, climate change, and bio-diversity. Although there are still some local air quality concerns in Canada, overall air quality has improved dramatically. 21 percent more of the municipal population across Canada was provided with waste-water treatment between 1983 and 1994. Not all of the evidence in the report indicates improvement, however. Ground level ozone increased 48 percent between 1974 and 1997, and there have been substantial increases in the amount of solid waste generated, and the amount of freshwater consumed.
People continue to believe that overall environmental quality is deteriorating.
This false perception is actually harmful to the environment because it prevents us from focusing on the most serious remaining environmental problems. Using available indicators, the authors have created an overall environmental quality index. The index is a feature unique to this report. Composite indices for the United States, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are included in the final chapter of the report. These indices were created in collaboration with the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy of San Francisco, the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, England, and the Korea Center for Free Enterprise of South Korea.