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Quality of life will depend on sustainable infrastructure: Siemens study

Quality of life in Canada's cities may rank "among the very best" today, but the future is not as bright, according to a national Siemens study. While 74% of the experts participating in the survey rate the quality of life in their cities as above average, only 44% are optimistic about their cities' future without substantial investments in infrastructure to increase competitiveness, protect the environment and ensure quality of life.

The study, “The Sustainable Cities Challenge in Canada”, was commissioned by Siemens Canada in conjunction with the David Suzuki Foundation and was conducted by GlobeScan in 12 of Canada's largest cities. It reflects the views of a sample of experts on issues related to infrastructure for cities from government, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations.

Focusing on key infrastructure areas—transportation, energy, water and waste water, healthcare, and safety and security—the study reveals that experts are divided on how effectively their cities are adopting sustainable infrastructure solutions. Less than a majority (41%) think their cities' leaders recognize the vital role that infrastructure decisions can play in protecting the environment and addressing climate change. And nine in ten experts see a high need for investment in transportation infrastructure—far greater than other areas.

“At Siemens we are very interested to know what Canadian city leaders and key stakeholders are thinking, which is why we undertook and invested in this study. We want to engage Canadians in a dialogue about sustainable cities, increase awareness of the subject and encourage more people to think about the future today,” said Roland Aurich, president and CEO of Siemens Canada.

Siemens

May 18, 2010  By Newswire