The population influences
sustainability in many ways. The number of people who live, work and play
in the Fraser Basin, how they are distributed throughout the region, and
how the population is changing in age and ethnicity all influence the social,
economic and environment challenges and opportunities in the Basin. The
number and distribution of people in regions and communities affect the
demand for housing, health services, land, energy, water, and other resources.
While unsustainable lifestyle choices and consumer behaviour of Basin residents
can have significant negative impacts on society and the environment, sustainability-wise
consumer choices can mitigate those impacts and advance sustainability.
| Population |
|
FAIR/MIXED
RESULTS
- Population growth is expected to continue in the Basin (4 million
by 2031) with growth rates varying in the regions. |
| Consumption |
|
MIXED
RESULTS/POOR
- Energy and
water consumption per capita are getting better, but total consumption
is getting worse. |
| Consumer
Choices for Sustainability |
|
GETTING
BETTER - Market
demand is supporting more certified organic farms and sustainable forest
management as well as energy savings through the BC Hydro Power Smart
Program. |
Population Growth & Change (2001-2003) 1
BC Statistics has estimated that the Basin population grew from 2.62 to
2.77 million between 2001-2003 (5.8% increase). The highest growth rates
were in the Greater Vancouver-Sea to Sky (GVSS) (7.8%) and Thompson (6.1%)
regions. In contrast, the Upper Fraser region was estimated to experience
a population decrease of 13.6% in this period. The distribution of the population
throughout the Basin has remained relatively the same over time, with the
majority (77.7%) residing in the GVSS, 9.2% in the Fraser Valley, 6.4% in
the Thompson, 2.4% in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and 4.2% and in the Upper Fraser
region. Over the next 25 years, the population of the Basin is expected
to grow by approximately 37%, becoming home to just under 4 million people
by 2031. Seniors, as a proportion of the population, will increase significantly
in every region over this period (See
Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Relations).
Urban Development 1
Growing populations increase the demand for land, housing, infrastructure,
services, and amenities. Urban sprawl can impact quality of life and environmental
health through increased traffic congestion, air pollution and respiratory
disease, climate change, unaffordable housing and increased public expenditures
on community infrastructure and services. Smart-growth practices can contain
urban sprawl and protect farmland, waterways, forests, parks, biodiversity
and other ecosystem services (See
Agriculture and Food, Air
Quality, Climate Change,
Housing).
Population density is one way to measure the proportion
of land consumed by urban development. Population density varies widely
in the Fraser Basin, ranging from as low as 1.5 people per square km in
Wells in the Cariboo-Chilcotin to almost 5,000 per square km in Vancouver.
Consumption of Water and Energy
2,
3
The population of the Basin impacts sustainability through the consumption
of natural resources such as water and energy. Per-capita water use in Basin
communities dropped by over 7% between 1991-2001; however, total municipal
water use increased by 21%. Similarly, between 1990-2004, energy consumption
in BC dropped by 6% per capita and by 18% per dollar of GDP. However, total
energy consumption in BC increased by 20% during the same period. These
trends suggest that growth in total population and economic activity have
outpaced improvements in water and energy use efficiency and conservation
on a per-capita basis (See Water
Quality and Quantity, Energy).
Consumers' Sustainability Choices
4, 5, 6
There are numerous ways that farmers, foresters, energy
providers and other businesses are advancing sustainability, and consumers
are encouraging and supporting them through their purchasing choices. The
following examples offer insight into how consumer preferences, and business
responses are contributing to a more sustainable Basin:
The
number of certified organic farm producers in BC increased by 17% (from
377 to 442) between 2000 and 2004. 4
There
has been a five-fold increase (from 2.6 to 12.9 million ha) in the area
of certified sustainable forest management operations within the Basin since
2001.5
There
has been a very significant increase (over 1000%) in energy savings resulting
from consumer participation in the BC Hydro Power Smart Program (from 177
GWh in 2002 to 1,957 GWh in the 2005/06 fiscal year).
6
What is being done?
Smart
Growth on the Ground is working to create examples of smart growth, by helping
communities to prepare more sustainable neighbourhood plans-including land
use, transportation, urban design, and building design plans. Examples to
date in the Fraser Basin include Maple Ridge and Squamish.
West
Coast Environmental Law has developed a Smart Bylaws Guide to assist local
governments to implement smart growth strategies through policy and bylaw
changes. The Guide describes smart growth practices, and provides case studies,
technical standards and bylaws that can be tailored to specific municipal
circumstances: www.wcel.org/issues/urban/sbg/.
The BC Network for Sustainability
Education is a multi-sectoral, collaborative network where participants
can engage in dialogue and action on sustainability education and build
awareness about ways to advance sustainability, including an online meeting
space: www.walkingthetalk.bc.ca/.
What else can we do?
Take steps at home and
at work to reduce the negative environmental impacts of our actions by using
energy-efficient technology, reducing carbon emissions and conserving water
and energy.
Support the development
of higher density residential units that will help to accommodate the growing
population in the Basin within the existing urban landscape.
Use
your power as a consumer to support and promote sustainable products and
services by choosing organic food, recycled and chlorine-free paper, certified
forest products, public transit and other forms of alternative transportation
and energy-efficient technologies.
REFERENCES
1. BC Stats Socioeconomic profile 2005.
2. Environment Canada, Municipal Use Database, 1986-2001.
www.ec.gc.ca/Water/en/manage/use/e_data.htm
3. Nyboer, John, Jian Jun Tu, Chris Joseph. A Review of
Energy Consumption and Supply in British Columbia, 1990 to 2004. Canadian
Industrial Energy End-Use Data and Analysis Centre. Simon Fraser University.
2006.
4. Canadian Organic Growers: Certified Organic Production
in Canada 2004. November 2005, Anne Macey.
5.Canadian Sustainable Forestry Certification Coalition.
Certification Status Report British Columbia. June 2006.
6 BC Hydro 2006 Annual Report.
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