By Eric Laganis | EcoLog News

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School is in for the Canadian provinces and territories as Corporate Knights Inc. released in April 2010 the results of its 2010 Green Provincial Report Card.
The report card, in its second year, measured the green commitments of each province and territory in 10 categories: air, water, biodiversity, people and health, buildings, transport, food, waste, energy, and toxics.

The territories claimed the top three spots in the report card, with the Northwest Territories (NWT) taking top honours followed by Nunavut and Yukon.
NWT excelled in biodiversity, where it placed first in the country, while Nunavut finished first in alternative transportation and having the least amount of toxic emissions. Yukon placed first in air quality and human health.

In terms of grades, NWT earned a C+, while Nunavut and Yukon both achieved a C.

Toby Heaps, editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights magazine — a quarterly publication that focuses on corporate responsibility — told EcoLog News that the results from the territories were surprising since it’s expected that they would consume more energy because of the dramatic changes in climate they experience. But this isn’t the case, as many communities have shown strong green awareness, which includes a reduced dependence on motor vehicles to move around.

Heaps added that the territories use a lot of renewable energy sources, particularly Yukon, where more than 70 per cent of its electricity comes from hydro and wind generation.

Among the grades awarded to the provinces, British Columbia (B.C.) had the highest followed by Ontario.

B.C. earned a C grade and finished first among provinces in the energy category, which measured energy efficiency and total amount of renewable electricity.
Ontario achieved a C- and finished second among provinces in water — which measured water consumption, quality and treatment — and for having the most green certified buildings.

A startling find in the report card is that once again five of the 10 provinces received failing scores.

Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.), Manitoba, and New Brunswick received failing grades in both the 2009 and 2010 report cards, while Alberta and Saskatchewan find themselves with an F grade for the first time in the latest report. Quebec and Prince Edward Island improved their failing grades from 2009 and this time received passing scores.