Canadian Worry over Environmental Problems

Transcription

1 Canadian Worry over Environmental Problems Crosstabulations Field Dates: May 15-16, 2012 Conducted for The Sun News Network Methodology The survey was conducted online with 1,008 respondents in English and French using an internet survey platform. A random sample of panelists was invited to participate in the survey from a larger internet representative panel of over 150,000 Canadians. The survey was completed from May 15 to 16, The data was statistically weighted by age, gender, region, and education level according to census data. Since the online survey was not a random, probability based sample, a margin of error could not be calculated. The margin of error for a survey of 1,008 respondents using a probability sample is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

2 Pollution of Water, Soil, and Air Worry Canadians the Most; Global Warming Is Least Concerning Please refer to the survey as: Sun News - Abacus Data Poll 1,008 Canadians, 18 years of age and older, May 15-16, 2012 Ottawa A new survey from Abacus Data conducted for QMI/Sun News finds that while a majority of Canadians worry a great deal or a fair amount about a range of environmental problems, they are more likely to worry about problems that hit closest to home. Respondents were shown a list of seven environmental problems and were asked how concerned they are with each one of them. A majority of respondents were worried a great deal about the pollution of drinking water (55% worried a great deal) and the pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs (51% worried a great deal). Second tier concerns included the contamination of soil and water by toxic waste (46% worried a great deal) and air pollution and smog (40% worried a great deal). Canadians were comparatively less worried about the extinction of plants and animal species (33% worried a great deal), the loss of tropical rain forests (33% worried a great deal) and global warming (33%) worried a great deal. In fact, when asked specifically about global warming, 37% said they worried only a little or not at all about the issue, much higher than any other environmental issue tested. The survey also found significant variation of opinion by region and political support. Quebec respondents were far more likely to be concerned about all environmental problems than respondents in other parts of Canada. Moreover, while NDP, Liberal and BQ supporters are concerned a great deal by most environmental problems, Conservative Party supporters are less concerned in particular about global warming with only 17% saying they worry a great deal about the issue. The question asked in this survey was mirrored after the exact question asked of Americans by Gallup in April Gallup has been tracking these measures since

3 This is how the Abacus survey of Canadians and the Gallup survey of Americans compare on worried a great deal : Canadians (Abacus, May 2012) Americans (Gallup, April 2012) Pollution of drinking water 55% 48% Pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs 51% 48% Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste 46% 50% Air pollution 40% 36% The loss of tropical rain forests 33% 37% Extinction of plant and animal species 33% 36% Global warming 33% 30% Methodology On May 15 and 16, 2012, Abacus Data Inc. conducted an online survey among 1,008 randomly selected Canadian adults from an online panel of over 150,000 Canadians. Since the online survey was not a random, probability-based sample, a margin of error could not be calculated. The margin of error for a survey of 1,008 respondents using a probability sample is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. Results of the survey were statistically weighted by gender, age, region, language, and immigration status using census data from Statistics Canada and by past using Elections Canada results from the 2011 General Election. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding. These questions were posed as part of the Abacus Data monthly omnibus survey. For more information about the survey findings, please contact Dr. David Coletto, CEO Abacus Data Inc. at (613) or david@abacusdata.ca 3

4 We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. (n=1,008, rotated statements) Pollution of drinking water 55% 29% 13% 4% Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs 51% 34% 13% 2% Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste 46% 33% 17% 4% Air pollution and smog 40% 39% 17% 4% Extinction of plants and animal species 33% 38% 22% 6% Loss of tropical rain forests 33% 37% 25% 6% Global warming 33% 30% 24% 13% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all 4

5 Pollution of drinking water (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

6 Air pollution and smog (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

7 Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

8 Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

9 Loss of tropical rain forests (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

10 Global warming (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural

11 Extinction of plants and animal species (We are going to show you a list of environmental problems. For each one, please tell us if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. ) A great deal A fair amount Only a little Not at all Canada Atlantic Quebec Ontario Central Alberta British Columbia Male Female to to to and over High school or less College or some university University degree Less than $35, $35,000 to $50, $50,001 to $75, $75,001 to $100, Over $100, Rather not say Conservative Party Liberal Party New Democratic Party Green Party Bloc Quebecois Another Party Urban Suburban Rural