How does your corner of Cascadia measure up against world leaders in economic security, energy efficiency, and walkable communities? Find out in Sightline’s just-released update of the Cascadia Scorecard, a regional report card that tracks seven trends vital to the Pacific Northwest’s future.
This year, we find we’re making steady progress in human health and smart growth, but lagging in energy efficiency, economic security, and wildlife preservation.
Also new: We’ve launched the Scorecard as a complete online resource to make it even easier for you to find out about key trends affecting the quality of life in our region—and to use the data, stories, and graphics behind the Scorecard.
Here are a few top findings from this year’s Scorecard:
- Energy spending shrinks our wallets: In 2008, Northwest states spent almost $30 billion—or the equivalent of $10,000 for every family of four—on imported oil, coal, and natural gas. That’s over four times the amount we spent ten years ago.
- BC ahead in average lifespan: British Columbia continues to lead the way in the health indicator with an average lifespan of 81.6 years. If it were its own nation, it would rank second in the world.
- Teen birthrates rise, reversing trend: Signaling a troubling trend, teen birthrates rose for the first time since the 1990s. Birthrates as a whole also rose, and Northwest states are still struggling with high rates of births from unintended pregnancies.
All the latest data, maps, and graphics are now available online at scorecard.sightline.org.
Download maps and graphics from the Scorecard on Sightline’s Flickr page.
