Support (74%) for Kyoto Accord Softens Since June (86%) but Remains Strong
While support is high, eight in ten (78%, down 4 points since June) say that the Government of Canada "needs to spend more time investigating the cost and impact of the Kyoto Accord before implementing it". In fact, 59% (down from 75% in June) agree that they "don't have enough information about the Kyoto Accord to say whether they support or oppose it".
While six in ten (57%, up 5 points since June) of Canadians believe the federal government "should ratify the Kyoto Accord and implement it, even if it means significant costs to the economy and changes to the lifestyles of Canadians", 71% (which is unchanged from June) say that it is possible for Canada "to develop an alternative to the accord that is just as effective but would cost the Canadian economy a lot less".
Three quarters (74%, up 2 points) express the view that "even if there are some problems with the Kyoto Accord, it should be implemented because it is a good first step."
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between October 1st and October 3rd, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population 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 Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.
Three quarters (74%, a decrease of 12 points since June) of Canadians say they support implementing the Kyoto Accord that calls for a reduction of approximately 20% in Canadian greenhouse gas emissions below current levels. One-fifth (21%) express opposition to the Accord.
- Regionally, support is highest in Quebec (85%) and Ontario (81%), followed by Atlantic Canada (70%), British Columbia (68%), and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (67%). Just more than one quarter (27%) of Alberta residents express support.
- Younger (78%) Canadians are more likely than middle aged (73%) or older (71%) Canadians to express support for the accord.
- Canadians with a university degree (81%) are more likely to support the Accord than those with a high school diploma (73%), some university or post-secondary education (72%) or those who did not finish high school (64%).
- There are no statistical differences between income or gender groups.
While support is high, eight in ten (78%, a decrease of 4 points since June) say that the Government of Canada needs to spend more time investigating the cost and impact of the accord before implementing it. One in five (20%) disagree with this position.
- Albertans (88%) lead those who agree with the view that more time is needed to investigate the costs and impact, followed by those in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (84%), British Columbia (80%), Atlantic Canada (80%), Ontario (76%) and Quebec (75%).
- Younger (82%) Canadians are more likely to hold this view than are middle aged (75%) Canadians.
- Canadians without a high school diploma (88%) and those with only a high school diploma (85%) are more likely than those with a university degree (68%) to express this view.
In fact, 59%, which is down from 75% recorded in June, agree that "they don't have enough information about the Kyoto Accord to say whether they support or oppose it". The opposite view is held by 40% of Canadians.
- Regionally, residents of Atlantic Canada (68%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (65%) are more likely to agree they don't have enough information, followed by residents of Quebec (61%), Alberta (59%), British Columbia (56%) and Ontario (56%).
- Women (66% versus 51%) of men say they don't have enough information to make a decision.
- Canadians who did not finish high school (81%) are the most likely to express this view, while those with a university degree (41%) are least likely.
- Those in the lowest household income group (73%) are more likely to express this concern than are those in the middle (65%) or upper (44%) household income groups.
Six in ten (57%, up 5 points over June) of Canadians believe the federal government should "ratify the Kyoto Accord and implement it, even if it means significant costs to the economy and changes to the lifestyles of Canadians", while one in four (39%) express the opposing view.
- Residents of Quebec (71%) are more likely than those in other regions to hold this view, followed by those in Ontario (60%), Atlantic Canada (55%), British Columbia (54%), and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (47%). Albertans (16%) are the least likely to express this view.
- Canadians with a university degree (64%) are more likely than those with some university or post-secondary education (56%), a high school diploma (51%) or without a high school diploma (50%) to express support to ratify the Accord even if there are significant costs and lifestyle changes required.
- Support for ratification is statistically consistent across age, gender and household income groups.
However, 71% (unchanged since June) say that it is "possible for Canada to develop an alternative to the accord that is just as effective but would cost the Canadian economy a lot less". Twenty-two percent do not believe this to be the case.
- Albertans (91%) are the most likely to agree with this proposition, followed by those in Quebec (76%), Atlantic Canada (74%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (67%), British Columbia (66%) and Ontario (65%).
- Canadian with only a high school diploma (81%) are more likely to agree with this view, followed by those without a diploma (75%), some university or other post-secondary education (72%) and those with a university degree (61%).
- Agreement with this view is statistically consistent across age, gender and household income groups.
Three quarters (74%, down 2 points) express the view that "even if there are some problems with the Kyoto Accord, it should be implemented because it is a good first step". Twenty-two percent hold the opposite view.
- Regionally, Quebec (84%) and Ontario (80%) lead in agreement, followed by British Columbia (72%), Sasktachewan/Manitoba (72%) and Atlantic Canada (71%), while Albertans (31%) are least likely to express agreement with this view.
- Younger (78%) Canadians are more likely to agree with this idea than are older (70%) Canadians.
- Agreement is statistically consistent between gender and household income groups.
To view the release and tables please open the attached PDF files.
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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
