Full Description
Despite Canada's enduring image as a natural paradise, every year thousands of Canadians become ill or die prematurely as a result of exposure to environmental hazards. Canadians understand that their health is inextricably linked to the health of the environment and are deeply concerned about the impacts of toxic substances on themselves and their children.
In Cleaner, Greener, Healthier, David R. Boyd sets out to remedy Canada's environmental health problems. He begins by assessing the environmental burden of disease, identifies its unequal distribution along racial and socio-economic lines, and estimates the associated economic costs. He then compares Canadian environmental laws and policies with those in the United States, Australia, and the European Union, delivering a provocative diagnosis of the root causes of Canada's second-rate standards. Finally, drawing on strategies that protect citizens in other countries, Boyd prescribes legal remedies that will enable Canada to catch up with the world's environmental leaders while delivering substantial health and economic benefits.
Contents
Part 1: Examination - The Surprising Magnitude of Environmental Health Problems in Canada
1 A Neglected but Vital Issue
2 Environmental Influences on Human Health
3 The Environmental Burden of Disease
4 Environmental Injustices
5 The Economic Costs of the Environmental Burden of Disease
Part 2: Diagnosis - Inadequate Environmental Health Laws and Policies
6 Environmental Health Law and Policy: The Big Picture
7 A Comparative Analysis of Environmental Health Laws and Policies
8 Canada's Failure to Make Polluters Pay
9 Why Does Canada Lag Behind?
Part 3: Prescription - Catching Up with Environmental Health Leaders
10 A Preventive and Precautionary Approach
11 Systemic Changes in Pursuit of Sustainability
12 The Time for Action Is Now
Notes
Index
