Canadians support for climate change policies

There is an urgent need to limit the negative effects of climate change. Understanding Canadians’ beliefs about climate change and their support for related policies helps guide mitigation efforts across broader societal systems. It is similarly important to understand how individuals perceive their own role in addressing climate change and the barriers to action that they experience.

Together with partners at NRCAN and ECCC, we identified areas in which there was a knowledge gap relevant to mitigation efforts in Canada, including how Canadians feel about climate policies, affordability, and the decline in biodiversity. We conducted a survey^* of 2,753 Canadians (Feb-March 2025). Highlights from the results include:

• Canadians believe that governments and large businesses have the most responsibility for taking action.
• Most Canadians support government investment in clean technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions across industries.
• More than a third of Canadians feel very or extremely stressed about their financial situation, and half of Canadians say that they are only able to afford their energy expenses with difficulty or not at all—including nearly a quarter reporting to forego a necessary expense to pay an energy bill.
• People are most willing to engage in simple, low-cost behaviours to prevent biodiversity loss, and they view governments rather than individuals as primarily responsible for addressing it.

Taken together, the findings speak to an expectation that governments and businesses should take mitigation actions, alongside significant challenges for individuals. The results will inform policy and communications at NRCAN and ECCC.

^* Data and materials are accessible on Library and Archives Canada.

For further information on our research contact iiu-uii@pco-bcp.gc.ca.