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The 2007 edition of the Cascadia Scorecard, the Pacific Northwest’s annual progress report, reveals that the region lags behind world leaders on trends such as energy, sprawl, and economic security. The good news is that we are making progress—and adopting smart solutions will accelerate those gains.

The Seattle Times has called the Cascadia Scorecard “a pioneering attempt to assess life in the Pacific Northwest across a broad array of measures.” Launched by Sightline Institute in 2004, the Scorecard aims to assess the region’s progress in key trends shaping its future, and to provide an alternative to one-sided measures such as the Dow Jones industrial average and GDP. Here’s a summary of how Cascadia “scored” on each trend in 2007.

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See state-by state (or province) summaries here

Energy

Stuck in high gear, but per-person gasoline use at a four-decade low

Total energy use in the Northwest has been stuck at a high level for decades, and per-person electricity and diesel use are on the rise. Counting highway fuels and electricity in homes and businesses, northwesterners consume the energy-equivalent of 2.1 gallons of gasoline every day—nearly double the rate of more energy-efficient nations such as Germany. The good news is that we’re using less gasoline per person, on average, than at any time since the late 1960s. Moreover, ambitious climate change initiatives launched by Northwest jurisdictions promise to improve energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. To jumpstart an energy-efficient economy, Cascadians can increase efficiency in cars, lighting, and appliances, and accelerate the growth of walkable transit- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. (See our "2007 energy indicator at a glance" page.)

Economic Security

Meager gains for ordinary northwesterners

While economic indicators such as the Dow Jones industrial average and gross regional product have grown dramatically in the past 15 years, ordinary northwesterners’ economic security has made meager gains in the Northwest states, and has declined in British Columbia. As a first step toward improving this score, Northwest communities need an accurate, regularly updated gauge of middle- and lower-income well-being. Without that, Cascadia is flying blind. (See our "2007 economy indicator at a glance" page.)

Sprawl

Some regional progress; Measure 37 endangers Oregon’s record

While low-density sprawl is still the norm in the Northwest’s cities, compact communities are making a resurgence, with the share of residents living in walkable or transit-oriented neighborhoods increasing in each major Northwest metropolis, especially Vancouver, BC. But in Oregon, Measure 37 claims have the potential to seriously undermine the state’s relatively strong record of fighting sprawl. In the Portland metro region alone, claimants filed more than 2,000 residential applications for Measure 37 waivers. Together, these claims could add nearly 14,000 housing units and 36,000 new residents, mostly on the urban fringe outside of agreed-upon growth boundaries. The keys to combating sprawl are protecting farmland, promoting infill development, and limiting sprawl-inducing road projects.
(See our "2007 sprawl indicator at a glance" page.)

Wildlife

Key species far below historic numbers

The five representative Cascadian wildlife populations tracked by the Scorecard are all far below their historic abundance. Wolves have staged a remarkable comeback in Montana and Idaho in recent years, while sage-grouse and chinook salmon have improved modestly. Orcas and Selkirk caribou are continuing to struggle. In order to make further gains, Cascadians can work to protect and restore the natural landscapes and ecosystems on which these species depend. (See our "2007 wildlife indicator at a glance" page.)

Population

Stubbornly high rates of unintended pregnancies

Despite a small increase in the last two years, Cascadia’s “lifetime births per woman”—-which is both a signal of women’s status and a harbinger of environmental impact—are stable and close to the international models of Sweden and the Netherlands. Teen births are at an all-time-low, particularly in British Columbia, whose teen birth rate is only one-third the rate of the Northwest states. Northwesterners can continue progress on this indicator by reducing the stubbornly high rates of births from unintended pregnancies, particularly in the Northwest states.

Health

Life expectancy rising, British Columbians two years ahead

Health, as measured by life expectancy, is the Scorecard’s best-performing indicator. Lifespans now average 79.5 years in Cascadia, compared with 81.3 years for Japan, which boasts the world’s longest lifespan. Within Cascadia, as the Scorecard’s lifespan map shows, British Columbians live an average of two years longer than residents of the Northwest states. To accelerate progress, Cascadians can increase access to preventive medical care, design neighborhoods for safety and exercise, and improve the economic prospects of the region’s neediest residents.
(See our "2007 health indicator at a glance" page.)

Pollution

No score, but some progress

Though the pollution indicator hasn’t been updated this year, evidence from multiple sources—including Sightline’s 2004 analysis of Cascadians’ breastmilk—makes it clear that we carry dangerous, persistent toxins in our bodies. Levels of at least two—toxic flame retardants called PBDEs and methyl mercury—may be rising over time. To reduce contamination, Cascadians can work to clean up polluted sites and to prevent the widespread use of untested chemicals as Washington State did in early 2007, when it voted to phase out the most dangerous forms of PBDEs.
(See our "2007 pollution indicator at a glance" page.)