Ontario’s auditor general says the province’s environment has been improving over the past several decades, but air and water pollution along with the loss of wetlands and forests remain a concern.
Bonnie Lysyk and environment commissioner Tyler Schulz say a warming climate from increased global greenhouse gas emissions has reduced Great Lakes ice cover.
They say the warming climate has also led to an increase in weather-related disasters.
The findings come in a state of the environment report released Tuesday.
The report that gathers information from various Ontario government ministries and other sources to produce an overview of the state of Ontario’s air, water, land and waste, climate, and nature and wildlife.
“Government decision-makers, businesses, citizen groups and the public need a clear picture about whether our air, water, soil and wildlife populations are getting better or worse,” Lysyk says.
She adds her Office released The State of the Environment in Ontario because, while ministries produce various reports on different areas, the Province does not yet consolidate that information to provide an easily accessible, holistic picture of Ontario’s environment.
The report says increasing algae blooms in Lake Erie and rising levels of microplastics in Lake Ontario are a growing concern.
It says 60 per cent of monitored rivers and streams rate poor for biological health.
Read the report at www.auditor.on.ca
(With files from the Canadian Press)
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