Canadians Look First to Government to Address Climate Change

Trudeau Foundation and Canada West Foundation Poll

Research Precedes Trudeau Conference on the Environment, Nov. 15-17

Montreal, QC - November 14, 2007 - Canadians strongly believe that government intervention is the most essential step to reducing climate change, and want their country to demonstrate global leadership in finding solutions, according to a new poll for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation commissioned in collaboration with the Canada West Foundation. The poll results come in advance of the Trudeau Foundation's upcoming annual conference entitled "A Climate of Reconciliation: Economy, Social Justice and the Environment", occurring in Calgary later this week.

"While Canadians see a role for both business and individuals in addressing climate change, the majority believe our government must lead the charge," said Pierre-Gerlier Forest, President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. "The forthcoming conference on this topic is another opportunity to pursue a central objective of the Trudeau Foundation, which is to generate informed reflection and dialogue around issues of major societal importance."

Causes

When asked to mention the largest contributors of green house gas (GHG) emissions causing climate change, Canadians are as likely to blame consumers like themselves as industry and business.

· More than half (55%) of Canadians mention industry, businesses or corporations as the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Canada today, with specific sectors being the oil and gas industry (17%) and the energy industry more broadly (12%), followed by manufacturing (3%), coal burning power plants (3%) and steel mills (3%). An equal proportion (53%) identifies consumers as the biggest contributors, primarily mentioning vehicle use (42%).

· Two-thirds (62%) say Central Canada is the region of Canada that is the biggest contributor of climate change-causing GHG emissions, mostly identifying Ontario (48%), followed by Quebec (15%). By comparison fewer than four in ten (38%) point to Western Canada, with 32 percent mentioning Alberta specifically. Central Canada is the region most apt to be mentioned by Canadians across the country, but especially so by Ontarians themselves (70%). Albertans (48%) are among those most likely to identify their own province as a major contributor of GHG.

· Most Canadians believe their own province is a major (41%) or moderate (42%) cause of the climate change problem. But views vary noticeably across the country, with identification of own province as a major cause of climate change highest in Ontario (62%) and Alberta (41%), compared with Quebec (38%), B.C. (19%), the Atlantic Provinces (13%), Manitoba (9%) and Saskatchewan (3%).

Solutions

Canadians look first to government rather than to industry or consumers to take the lead in tackling climate change. Most believe that all regions of the country have an equally responsibility to address the problem, but at the same time would support additional compensation to Western Canada if the costs fall more heavily on this region.

· Canadians are most likely to believe that government regulation is most essential to reducing climate change (50%) compared with just 19% who see the key role falling to industry and business to make new investments and change their operations, and 15% who put the onus on consumers to change their lifestyle.

· When asked what kind of people have a greater responsibility than others to take action on climate change, Canadians look first to people in government (27%) or industry executives (22%) At the same time, three in ten (31%) insist all Canadians have an equal responsibility.

· Do all regions of the country have an equal responsibility to take strong action on climate change, or do some have a greater responsibility than others? Two-thirds (67%) of Canadians believe all have an equal responsibility, with this view strongest in B.C. (78%), Manitoba (75%) and Atlantic Canada (75%), and least so in Quebec (59%).

· A majority (57%) of Canadians feel that Western Canada should receive compensation from the rest of the country if the economic costs of strong action on climate change fell more heavily on this region. Support for such assistance is strongest in the Prairies (72%) and B.C. (70%), and noticeably lower in Quebec (47%) and Atlantic Canada (46%).

Global Leadership

Canadians want their country to demonstrate global leadership in finding solutions to climate change, but there is no consensus on whether a made-in-Canada approach or one consistent with other industrialized nations is best.

· Canadians believe Canada should take a leadership role in the fight against climate change, either as the leading country (18%) or being among the leaders (49%).

· Canadians think the most effective way for Canada to influence other countries to take more action is to serve as a model country that sets an example for others (44%). Fewer suggest the development/export of new environmentally-friendly technology (28%) or through exerting diplomatic or trade pressures on other governments (15%).

· Five in ten (51%) Canadians prefer our national approach to climate change be tailored specifically to Canada, while 42 % say the better option is to be as consistent as possible with the approaches taken in other industrialized countries. This trend is reversed in Quebec, where the balance of opinion tilts toward an international approach (48%) over one specific to Canada (44%).

Against this backdrop, the Trudeau Conference will shed light on the situation in Canada, and a series of five thematic sessions (energy, health, housing, transport, and water) will focus on immediate, practical issues to help define the most promising public choices. Conference speakers include:

Edward Burtynsky, one of Canada's most respected photographers whose work on global industrial landscapes is showcased in museums around the world.

Jack Diamond, WWF Canada Board member,prize-winning architect and founder of Toronto-based Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc., with projects across in Canada and across the World.

Heather Douglas, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Travis Engen, former President and CEO of Alcan and Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Roger Gibbins, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation.

Richard Jackson (Berkeley), former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Center for Environmental Health.

William Rees (University of British Columbia and Trudeau Fellow) originator and co-developer of the "ecological footprint" concept and method.

Robert Sandford, Canadian Chair of the United Nations International "Water for Life" Decade.