Leger recently surveyed Canadians and Americans about their experiences with extreme weather events, their perceptions of the frequency of these events in their respective countries and their opinions on climate change.
SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR SURVEY ON EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE INCLUDE…
Forest fires in Canada: A similar proportion of Canadians (26%) and Americans (23%) indicate they have been impacted by the recent forest fires in Canada.
Extreme weather events: 23% of Canadians and 24% of Americans say they have been personally impacted by an extreme weather event in the past 12 months. Canadians are most likely to feel there have been more forest fires/wildfires in Canada than before, while Americans are most likely to feel there has been a greater frequency of poor air quality in the U.S. than before.
Climate change: Canadians (67%) are more likely than Americans (58%) to say that the changes in their country’s climate worry them. Canadians (37%) are significantly more likely than Americans (23%) to think that it is too late to reverse the consequences of climate change.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
- A web survey was conducted among 1,514 Canadians and 1,003 Americans 18 years of age or older. Respondents had the option of completing the survey in English or in French and were randomly recruited using Leger’s LEO online panel.
- The data was collected from June 16 to 19, 2023.
- Technically, a margin of error should not be associated with a non-probability sample (Web panel in this case). However, for comparative purposes, a probability sample of 1,514 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.51%, 19 times out of 20 and a sample of 1,003 would have a margin of error of ±3.09%, 19 times out of 20.
- The results were weighted according to age, gender, mother tongue, region, education and presence of children in the household in order to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian and American population.