This week, we conducted a survey of Canadians to explore their views and experiences related to extreme weather events.
Highlights include…
More Frequent Events
- Canadians continue to see an increase in wildfires (74%), poor air quality (66%), and temperature swings (62%). But fewer now perceive more extreme heat (55%, 9-point decrease), heavy rainfall (39%, 16-point decrease), or floods (39%, 17-point decrease) than in August 2024.
Personal Impact of Extreme Weather Events
- One fourth of Canadians (23%) report being personally affected by extreme weather in the past year. Most common effects are staying indoors due to air quality concerns (65%) and suffering emotional stress (39%).
Cautious Outlook on the Future
- While most (57%) still expect extreme weather to become more frequent, this is 4 points lower than last August. Concern about hotter summers and future heat waves has also dropped: 62% are concerned today versus 70% last year, with a 6-point drop in those “very concerned”.
Concerns on Climate Change
- Concern about climate change is softening slightly: 59% say it worries them, compared to 63% in August. At the same time, about half of Canadians (50%) believe it’s still possible to reverse the effects of climate change, a level comparable to last August. One in ten Canadians (13%) does not believe in climate change. This proportion rises to 24% in Alberta.
Methodology
This online survey was conducted among 1,529 Canadian residents aged 18 or older, from June 13 to 15, 2025. Respondents were randomly recruited through 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 this size would have a margin of error of ±2.51%, 19 times out of 20.
