Public Attitudes to Decarbonization of Metro Vancouver

| Data, Polls

On behalf of CityAge, Mustel Group conducted research among Metro Vancouver residents to gauge attitudes toward decarbonization in the region.

Key Findings:

  • Jobs and the economy and creating more housing are the most important issues in the next 10 years for Metro Vancouver residents, which likely speaks to concerns about affordability in the region.
  • Decarbonization ranks third most important of the five issues measured, behind economic and housing concerns.
  • Residents rate their concern about greenhouse gas emissions in Metro Vancouver an average of 6.3 on a scale where 10 means ‘extremely concerned’. But they are less concerned about their own footprint, providing an average rating of 5.1.
  • Industry is believed to be the top carbon emitter in Metro Vancouver, followed by private vehicles and commercial transportation.
  • Smart technology, industry incentives, solar power and alternative transportation modes are viewed as the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
  • Rated as least effective are carbon offsets, carbon taxes, and using wood instead of concrete for building construction.
  • When asked about personal actions they would take to reduce their own footprint, there is some resistance (by 40% or more) to installing a heat pump if owning a home, purchasing an EV or hybrid vehicle, limiting or reducing air travel, and purchasing carbon offsets.
  • Metro Vancouver residents are cautiously optimistic that BC will be able to meet its future electricity needs with two-thirds (67%) at least ‘somewhat’ confident but only 22% ‘very’ confident.
  • But residents are not confident that Metro Vancouver will be able to meet its net zero emission goals with our current population growth. Only 30% have some degree of confidence.

 

See full report here

 

 

About this survey:

  • 400 online interviews conducted with a random sample of Metro Vancouver residents, 18 years of age or over;
  • Mustel Group’s Giving Opinions panel used (100% randomly recruited panel) supplemented by a panel partner to ensure the sample is representative of the population;
  • Minor weighting applied to match sample to Statistics Canada census data on basis of age, gender and region;
  • Margin of error on sample: +/-5% at 95% level of confidence;
  • Data collection: January 10th to 22nd, 2024
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