Canadians ambitious on climate but concerned about energy prices

The research gauged the opinions among Canadians on the level of concern for climate change and the economy. Canadians were also asked their views on the job done by Canada to implement environmental policies on climate change and ensuring energy remains affordable while working to meet climate change targets. Questions were also asked on actions taken to transition to electricity

Views on climate:

1. Timing to be ambitious in addressing climate change even if there are costs to the economy: After a steady decline from August 2021 to November 2022, the proportion of Canadians who think it is the best time for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change even if there are costs to the economy is on the rise, with almost six in ten who say so (57%).
2. Reasons for views on whether it is the best time to be ambitious in addressing climate change: When asked the reason for their views on whether it is the best time to be ambitious in addressing climate change, those who think it is the best time most often said we need to act now, climate change can’t wait (78%). Those who think it is the worst time to be ambitious most often said so because of the current financial situation, inflation and an upcoming recession.
3. Job done by Canada having policies on climate change that align with Canadian views: Consistent with the previous wave, about one in three think Canada currently does a very poor/poor job (35%) at having environmental policies on climate change which align with the views of Canadians (36% in May 2021). About four in ten think Canada does an average job (42%) while about one in five say it does a very good/good job at this (18%).

Views on energy:

1. Canadians concerned about energy prices over the next six months: Consistent with the previous wave, about seven in ten Canadians are concerned (score of 7-10 out of 10) about energy prices they will pay for things like heating and transportation over the next six months. Almost one-third of Canadians rate their level of concern a 10 on 10 (very concerned – 32%), while only 4% say they are not concerned at all (score of 0 out of 10).
2. Job done by governments in Canada ensuring energy is affordable: Canadians are over three times more likely to say governments in Canada do a very poor/poor job (46%) of ensuring energy is affordable as Canada works to meet its climate change targets rather than a very good/good job (13%). About one in three Canadians say governments do an average job (34%) at this. There has been a decrease in the proportion who say governments do a very poor job (24%) compared to the previous wave in November 2022 (30%).
3. Interests and actions taken in transitioning to electricity: When asked to think of their energy needs and the actions they are taking to transition more of the energy they use to electricity and away from things like gasoline, two in five Canadians say they are interested in transitioning but haven’t started yet (41%), followed by one in four, each, who say they are interested in transitioning and have taken steps to do so (25%) or they are no interested (26%). Eight percent say they are interested in transitioning and have done all that they plan to do. Residents of Quebec are most likely to be interested in transitioning (only 11% say they are not interested) with 15% saying they have already done all that they plan to do.
4. Top-ranked most important energy needs in the next five years: Canadians most often rank affordability of energy (39%) first when asked to think about the energy needs of Canadians in the next five years. This was followed by lower greenhouse gas emissions of energy (31%) and reliability of energy (20%). Residents of Quebec are more likely to rank lower greenhouse gas emissions as most important (45%) compared to those from other regions. Similarly, left-leaning Canadians are most likely to rank lower GHGs as most important (53%), while those who are right-leaning rank affordability are most important (56%).