Climate Ambition Tracking: After trailing the environment, jobs and the economy now statistically tied with the environment for the first time.

The research gauged the opinions among Canadians on climate change, energy costs, and the balance between environmental protection and economic growth. It explores views on the timing of climate action, concerns about energy prices, confidence in various players to reduce emissions, and preferences for federal or provincial leadership in climate policy.

1. Wanting to protect the environment rather than focus on growth and jobs reaches an all-time low; prioritizing economic growth and jobs at an all-time high: Canadians are split for the first time since tracking began on whether protecting the environment at the expense of the economy (46%, an all-time low) or growth and creating jobs at the expense of the environment (44%, an all-time high) should be the top priority. Right-leaning Canadians are much more likely to say economic growth and creating jobs should be the priority (72%) than those who say they are left-leaning (18%).
2. The proportion of Canadians who say it is the best time to be ambitious in addressing climate change reaches an all-time low: Although Canadians are still more likely to say it is the best time for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change (44%) rather than the worst time (30%), this represents an all-time low and a continual decline since May 2023 (57%). Those who say it is the best time often say it is because we need to act now and climate change can’t wait (82%), while those who say it is the worst time most often mention that Canada’s impact on climate change is minimal (19%) and that there are other priorities / that Canada should focus on health/basic needs (17%).
3. Concern about energy prices lowers after being steady since November 2022: Although Canadians are over two times more likely to be concerned (53%) than not concerned (22%) about the energy prices they will pay over the next six months, the proportion of Canadians who are concerned has decreased since the last wave in April 2024 (66%). Those who are concerned most often say it is because they depend on energy costs/they have to be paid for/energy prices affect our lives/living costs (19%). Those who are not concerned most frequently say it is because they can afford it/not expensive (34%).
4. Confidence Canadians have in corporations, citizens and governments to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the decline since 2021: Canadians are more likely to have low confidence rather than high confidence in all players to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since the August 2021 wave, Canadians are less likely to have confidence in governments in creating policies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (24%; 35% in 2021). They are also less likely to have confidence in corporations to change their behavior to reduce emissions (14%; 21% in 2021) and in citizens to change their behavior (22%; 35% in 2021).
5. Canadians are two times more likely to say the federal government should lead on climate policy rather than provincial governments: Close to two in three Canadians prefer that the federal government lead on climate policy for Canada even if it leads to disagreements with the provinces (62%), while close to one in three say provinces should lead decision-making for climate policy even if it leads to an uncoordinated approach across the country (31%).
6. Canadians most likely to say nothing contributes to their confidence that Canada can reduce emissions; most likely to say a potential Conservative government and big business are detractors: When asked what most contributes to their confidence that Canada can reduce emissions, Canadians most frequently say nothing/no confidence (22%), people taking action/holding the government accountable (12%) and the government has the will/determination/commitments (10%). Asked what most undermines their confidence, Canadians say it will never happen with a Conservative government/if Conservatives are elected/a change in government (9%) and big business/oil industry interests/lobbying (8%).