Revealing a nation-wide “scarcity mindset,” 72% of Canadians believe policymakers must prioritize immediate issues like housing affordability over long-term efforts to address climate change, concludes a new survey by polling firm Abacus Data.
A 14% drop in climate concern compared to this time last year indicates Canadians are more worried about viscerally felt socio-economic challenges than the threat of climate change, writes Abacus, citing a national survey of 1,701 Canadian adults it conducted in September.
Whereas 76% of Canadians declared themselves “moderately” or “very” concerned about climate change last fall, only 62% said the same this year.
Climate concern, or the lack thereof, tracks along party lines: Liberals and NDP supporters are most concerned about climate change (at 76% and 74% respectively), while 22% of Conservative supporters “indicate that they are not at all concerned with climate change and its potential impact on our future,” writes Abacus Vice-President Eddie Shepherd.
Economic anxiety also falls along party lines. Eighty-two percent of committed Conservatives believe that economics trump climate. Sixty-five percent of committed New Democrats say the same, as do 57% of Liberal supporters.
Taken together, the data “suggests that while climate change remains important for many, Canadians are increasingly preoccupied with pressing issues such as the cost of living and housing affordability, and a scarcity mindset is framing their priorities at the moment,” writes Abacus.
That many Canadians aren’t making the connection between their immediate well-being and climate change is a major policy and pedagogical failure, said Louise Comeau, climate communications consultant and senior advisor to the Re.Climate initiative.
“We have not educated Canadians about the risks and have not made the link well between today’s concerns and climate change. This is a problem we need to address,” Comeau told The Energy Mix.
The Abacus results point to the potential to address the climate emergency in tandem with other top-tier policy issues.
“Sixty-two percent of Canadians believe it is possible to address immediate issues while also tackling climate change, reflecting a growing recognition that these priorities can be pursued simultaneously,” writes Abacus. “This perspective is particularly strong among Liberal (77%) and NDP (70%) supporters.”
A small majority of Conservative supporters, 54%, told Abacus that simultaneous action on climate and economic concerns is possible.
Fifty-five percent of respondents, 65% of Liberal supporters, and 63% of New Democrats said governments should strike a balance between attending to urgent needs while pursuing long-term climate goals.
By contrast, “a significant 41% of Conservative supporters advocate for prioritizing immediate economic growth, even if it necessitates postponing climate action.”
Asked to identify “who they believe is best equipped to tackle climate change and promote the growth of Canada’s clean economy,” 30% of respondents named Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, compared to 17% for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and 13% for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Another 26% said they were unsure.
“There are a few things to factor into this [result],” Shepherd told the Mix.
Trudeau still holds the confidence of Canadians “who are actually concerned with climate change,” he said, while those who identify Poilievre as “best equipped” to address climate are least inclined to see it as a serious problem. As well, Trudeau’s relatively poor showing is “in part” a reflection of “the desire for change, rather than a clear vote of confidence for Pierre Poilievre.”
