Ipsos Quick Poll On Climate Change

Methodology

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Vancouver Sun. The poll was fielded February 7th to February 13th, 2007 with a random sample of 715 adult British Columbians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1773.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of BC been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual BC population according to 2001 Census data.

The polling was conducted using Ipsos Reid's "Voice of the West Interactive Forum" - an online panel of more than 1,300 British Columbians who have been randomly recruited to match the overall characteristics of the adult BC population.

Global Threats

Q1. Which of the following global threats are you most worried will impact you in a negative way over the next few years and decades?

Comments: British Columbians consider climate change to be the greatest global threat over the next few years and decades. Nearly half (46%) of residents rank climate change ahead of terrorism, pandemic, energy shortages and nuclear proliferation, as the global threat they are most worried will impact them in a negative way.

Climate Change Knowledge

Q2. How much, if anything, do you know about climate change?

Comments: Only about one-in-ten (12%) British Columbians claim to know "a great deal" about climate change. Most--two-thirds (66%)--say they know "a fair amount", while two-in-ten (20%) say they know "very little". Only 1% of the public say they know "nothing or almost nothing" about climate change

Personal Evidence of Climate Change

Q3. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "I have personally seen evidence of climate change."

Comments: British Columbians clearly think climate change is real. More than eight-in-ten (84%) residents agree that they've personally seen evidence of climate change

Belief Canada Can Make a Real Difference

Q4. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "Canada can make a real difference in stopping global climate change."

Comments: Most British Columbians believe that Canada can make a difference on the climate change issue. Three-quarters (76%) of residents agree that Canada can make a real difference in stopping global climate change.

Women (85%) are more likely than men (65%) to agree that Canada can make a real difference.

Belief Self Can Make a Real Difference

Q5. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "I can make a real difference in stopping global climate change."

Comments: Most British Columbians also believe they can make a difference on the climate change issue. Seven-in-ten (69%) agree that they can make a real difference in stopping global climate change.

Women (81%) are much more likely than men (56%) to agree that they can make a real difference in stopping global climate change.

Economic Opportunity of Addressing Climate Change

Q6. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "Addressing climate change could provide a net economic benefit to Canada, as new wealth and jobs are created through the development of strong green-based industries."

Comments: British Columbians don't see addressing climate change as all doom and gloom. Eight-in-ten (78%) agree with the assessment recently put forward by Stйphane Dion that taking action on climate change could provide a net economic benefit to Canada through the development of strong green-based industries.

Women (83% vs. 72% of men) and younger residents (87% vs. 74% 35+ years) are more likely to agree that addressing climate change could provide a net economic benefit.

Influence of Climate Change on Federal Vote

Q7. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "Climate change will be an important factor in my vote in the next federal election."

Comments: Expect climate change to be on the agenda in the next federal election. Two-thirds (66%) of British Columbians agree that climate change will be an important factor in their vote.

The climate change issue is expected to have a greater voter impact with Lower Mainland residents (77% vs. 64% rest of BC) and women (76% vs. 54% of men).

Willingness to Make Personal Changes

Q8. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "I am personally prepared to make significant changes to my lifestyle in order to stop climate change."

Comments: Most British Columbians say they are prepared to make some personal changes to deal with climate change. Three-quarters (77%) agree they are prepared to make significant changes to their lifestyle in order to stop climate change.

Willingness to make significant personal changes is higher with women (87% agree) than with men (67%).

Willingness to Pay $100 in Special Income Tax

Q9. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about climate change. "I am personally prepared to pay an extra $100 per year in a special income tax that would go towards efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions."

Comments: While most British Columbians say they are willing to make significant changes to their lifestyle, far fewer are willing to pay a special income tax. Only about half (47%) of British Columbians say they are personally prepared to pay an extra $100 per year in a special income tax that would go towards efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Willingness to pay the tax is slightly higher in the Lower Mainland (51% vs. 42% rest of BC) and among women (52% vs. 42% of men).

Trust in Various Groups to Address Climate Change

Q10. Which of the following groups do you trust will take the appropriate steps and do their part to address climate change? Please select all that apply.

Comments: British Columbians are generally sceptical that most groups and organizations will do their part to deal with climate change. In fact, only about half (50%) of residents say they trust themselves (the Canadian public) to take the appropriate steps. The level of trust is much lower, about one-quarter, for both Canadian industry (24%) and Canada's Conservative Government (23%). Trust falls even further on the international stage, with only about one-in-ten British Columbians saying they trust U.S. government and industry (11%) or governments and industries in emerging economies (7%) to take the appropriate steps on climate change.

Optimism that World Will Make a Real Difference

Q11. Overall, are you more optimistic or pessimistic that the world will be able to make a real difference in addressing climate change over the next decade or so?

Comments: The overall mood on climate change is more negative than positive. A slight majority (52%) of British Columbians say they are generally pessimistic that the world will be able to make a real difference in addressing climate change over the next decade or so. Four-in-ten (39%) British Columbians say they are generally optimistic that the world will be able to make a real difference.

Men (56% pessimistic) are slightly more pessimistic than women (48%).

For more information on this press release, please contact:
Kyle Braid
Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(604) 893-1605

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