A big majority (68%) of Canadians imagine that Canada’s latest wildfires are “undoubtedly” or “most probably” at the least partly the results of local weather change, in accordance with a brand new survey from Clear Power Canada and Abacus Information.
Moreover, practically all (89%) Canadians say they’ve seen a rise in pure disasters over the previous decade, with seven in 10 believing that this can be a direct impact of local weather change. Solely 12% say they haven’t seen a rise in pure disasters, whereas one other 18% have noticed a rise however imagine it’s “only a coincidence, not local weather change.”
When requested to charge how briskly Canada is transferring on investing in and transitioning to wash vitality, greater than half (56%) of Canadians suppose that Canada is transferring “pretty slowly” or “very slowly,” whereas lower than half (49%) say the identical of our allies. On each fronts, Canadians are considerably pessimistic in regards to the tempo of the vitality transition.
In the meantime, practically all (87%) Canadians really feel that it’s “crucial” or “considerably vital” for federal and provincial governments to make sure that Canada stays aggressive with our allies and buying and selling companions in terms of rising our clear vitality sector and sustainably produced exports.
Whereas roughly half (47%) of Canadians noticed the latest electrical automobile and battery manufacturing bulletins in Canada, 68% say that they view them as proof that the transition to wash vitality can profit Canada’s economic system and job creation. Youthful Canadians had been more likely to see the bulletins as useful.
Enthusiastic about the following federal election, practically all (86%) Canadians expressed that having a very good plan for addressing local weather change and rising Canada’s clear economic system will influence their vote, with practically 6 in 10 deeming it as “important” or “crucial” for his or her vote.
Lastly, many Canadians are nonetheless getting their data by way of the information. When requested how they decide whether or not a political celebration has a very good plan to handle local weather change and develop Canada’s clear economic system, roughly half (49%) say they “learn or watch the information,” whereas 33% say they “hearken to the consultants.” Solely 16% cite social media as a supply of knowledge.
QUOTES
Trevor Melanson, communications director at Clear Power Canada
“Because the impacts of local weather change change into extra frequent and obvious, Canadians are connecting the dots. They’re additionally connecting the financial dots, with a powerful majority seeing latest EV and battery manufacturing bulletins as proof that the clear vitality transition can drive development and job creation. For politicians, that is greater than a field to tick. Canadians each care deeply about local weather motion and are typically skeptical of political events on this subject. It’s going to take severe, sustained, and credible efforts to win them over.”
David Coletto, CEO at Abacus Information
“Wildfires and excessive climate remind Canadians that local weather change isn’t only a international or theoretical phenomenon. It’s having actual and sometimes devastating impacts on folks’s lives. The result’s {that a} rising variety of individuals are making a celebration or political chief’s dedication to tackling the disaster desk stakes to their political behaviour.”
METHODOLOGY
The survey was carried out with 2,000 Canadian adults from June 06 to 11, 2023. A random pattern of panelists had been invited to finish the survey from a set of companion panels based mostly on the Lucid trade platform. These companions are sometimes double opt-in survey panels, blended to handle out potential skews within the information from a single supply. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random pattern of the identical measurement is +/- 2.2%, 19 instances out of 20. The info had been weighted in accordance with census information to make sure that the pattern matched Canada’s inhabitants in accordance with age, gender, instructional attainment, and area. Totals could not add as much as 100 as a result of rounding.
