For most Canadians, this past holiday season was unusually warm. In fact, Ottawa, among other cities, broke records for the highest temperature recorded in December, according to the CBC.
After this unprecedented warm weather, Canadians are starting to feel the true effects of climate change and wonder whether the effects are reversible.
From January 12 to 14, 2024, we surveyed Canadians to learn about their experiences with extreme weather events and their opinions on climate change in Canada.
Download the report to learn more.
Some of the key highlights of our survey about climate change in Canada include…
- 80% of Canadians say that the past holiday season has been unusually warm compared to previous years. Quebecers (85%) were more likely to think so. Three-quarters (73%) of those who feel it was warmer this year attribute this to climate change.
- 81% of people who experienced warmer weather during the holiday season this year liked it because they did not have to deal with shoveling or the cold. However, 66% of respondents did not like the warmer weather because it reminded them of the impacts of climate change. Quebecers (76%) and Canadians aged 18 to 34 (75%) were more likely to not like the warmer weather because it reminded them of the impacts of climate change.
- In the past year, 88% of Canadians have witnessed at least one extreme weather event and 30% have been personally impacted by one.
- Late-onset winters (49%), unusually mild winter months (46%), poor air quality (41%), extreme heat (39%), and heavy rainfall (34%) are the most common events witnessed by Canadians.
- A significant majority of Canadians think that forest fires/wildfires (74%), extreme heat (63%), late-onset winters (63%), unusually mild winter months (61%), poor air quality (60%), and wide temperature variations within the same season (59%) have increased in Canada.
- 63% of Canadians are worried about climate change in Canada, while 20% are not worried about it, and 8% think that there are not really any changes in the climate in Canada.Quebecers (72%) and women (70%) are more likely to be worried about climate change in Canada.
- Half of Canadians (50%) think there is still time to reverse the consequences of climate change, while 38% think that it is too late, and 12% do not believe in climate change.
METHODOLOGY
This web survey was conducted from January 12 to 14, 2024, with 1,530 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,530 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.50%, 19 times out of 20.