Appetite to meet climate commitments continues to rise

New survey results from Positive Energy and Nanos Research (PDF, 1.1MB) evaluate Canadians' appetite to meet established climate commitments, whether it is the right time for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change and drivers of views on timing to address climate change. It also evaluates Canada's international credibility on environmental policies.

Nanos Research, RDD dual frame hybrid telephone and online random survey, February 23rd to 24th, 2022, n=1032, accurate 3.1 percentage points plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

1. Meeting climate commitments despite energy prices increasing: Agreement among Canadians that Canada should meet its climate commitments, even if it means energy prices increasing continues to trend up, with over three in five who agree (34%) or somewhat agree (29%), compared to just under in three in five who agreed/somewhat agreed in September 2019 and about one in two who agreed/somewhat agreed in March 2018.

2. Canada's international credibility on environmental policies: Canada’s credibility on the international stage when it comes to environmental policies on climate change shifts from low to average since the previous wave in 2015. Canadians are now over four times more likely to say Canada’s current credibility is average (45%; 21% in 2015), those who say Canada has low credibility significantly decreased (14%; 46% in 2015).
3. Timing to be ambitious in addressing climate change: Over one in two Canadians (54%) think it is the best time (score of 7-10) for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change even if there are costs to the economy, which is a noticeable decrease from the previous wave in August 2021 (64%). Residents of Quebec (mean of 7.1) are most likely to think it is the best time than those from other regions and provinces.
4. Drivers of views on timing to address climate change: Canadians who think it is the best time for Canada to be ambitious most often say it is because we need to act now, climate change can't wait (80%), while those who think it is the worst time (score of 0-3) are most likely to say we should wait until the economy has recovered from the effects of the pandemic (34%).

Canadians increasingly want government to meet climate targets, even if it means higher energy prices, polls suggest - The Hill Times