Among all the issues facing the world today, Canadians are most concerned about the environment and global warming-mentioned by one-third of the population as top issues - far ahead of war (8%), turmoil in Iraq and the Middle East (6%), conflict in Afghanistan (5%) and poverty (5%), according to a new survey by TNS Canadian Facts.
The survey found that two-thirds of Canadians are more concerned about global warming now than they were a year ago. This sentiment strengthens the further back in time Canadians assess their views on the issue, with nearly eight in ten saying they are more alarmed about global warming today compared to three years ago.
In fact, Canadians have noticed increased coverage of global warming in the media, with more than 80 per cent saying they have been hearing more about it in the news recently compared to a year ago. The survey also found that the environment and global warming are top concerns among all Canadians, even among those who would vote Conservative if a Federal election were held today.
The top three actions that Canadians are most likely to take to help the
environment are recycling (87% probably or definitely will), purchasing
appliances that are energy efficient (71%), and replacing traditional light
bulbs with environmentally-friendly ones (66%).
Activities that would reduce harmful emissions to produce energy - and
lower household utility bills - are also high on the list of steps that
Canadians say they are willing to take. These activities include turning down
the heat in the winter, using less air conditioning in the summer, and washing
clothing only in cold water.
Canadians are not as willing, though, to change their driving habits.
Taking public transit more often is an action that one-third of the population
say they definitely would not or probably would not do.
Despite the attempts of some to suggest that global warming is merely a
theory, Canadians aren't buying it, as more than eight in 10 interviewed in
the survey are convinced that global warming has been scientifically proven.
The poll also found that an equally high proportion of Canadians are hopeful
that global warming can be slowed.
For the survey, TNS Canadian Facts interviewed 1,009 nationally
representative Canadian adults by telephone between January 17 and 21. The
survey results are considered accurate to 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out
of 20.
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