More than half of Canadians say climate protection trumps oilsands, pipelines
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
A new survey from the Climate Action Network Canada shows Canadians think climate trumps economy when it comes to the dirtiest industries
OTTAWA—Canadians believe climate disruption is a moral issue and that climate protection trumps development of the tarsands and pipelines, according to a new survey by Climate Action Network Canada, an Ottawa-based coalition of environmental organizations.
The national telephone poll was conducted at the end of March 2015 and found respondents want politicians to control carbon pollution and give citizens a say in energy decision-making.
According to the Survey, Canadians believe:
- Protecting the climate is more important than building the Energy East pipeline and further developing the tarsands (61 per cent agree/strongly agree).
- Building the Energy East pipeline to export tarsands oil is unethical because it is harmful to the environment (by a 3 to 1 margin that 56 per cent agree/strongly agree; 18 per cent disagree/strongly disagree).
For provinces along the Energy East Pipeline route, results were:
- 71 per cent of Québecers, 67 per cent of Ontarians and 60 per cent of New Brunswickers believe protecting the climate is more important than building the Energy East pipeline and further developing the tarsands (agree/strongly agree).
- 68 per cent of Québecers, 55 per cent of Ontarians and 57 per cent of New Brunswickers believe that building the Energy East pipeline to export tarsands oil is unethical because it is harmful to the environment.
When asked to consider their views on TransCanada’s Energy East Pipeline project, 80 per cent of Canadians said they were familiar with the project. Overall, more Canadians oppose the Energy East pipeline project (47 per cent) than support it (36 per cent); 18 per cent were unsure. For provinces on the Energy East Pipeline route, 51 per cent of Québecers, 42 per cent of Ontarians, and 44 per cent of New Brunswickers oppose the project.
By a margin of almost 6 to 1 (70 per cent agree/strongly agree versus 12 per ent disagree/strongly disagree), respondents said Canadians should be global leaders in protecting the climate by reducing our energy consumption. Canadians also believe that individuals are morally obligated to take action in their daily lives to reduce carbon pollution (76 per cent agree/strongly agree).
