Environmentalism gaining weight in Canada

[Fig]

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/08/23/10575486-cp.html

OTTAWA - Canadians are telling governments not to let the recession become an excuse for easing up on efforts to protect the environment, a new poll suggests.

The finding and others in The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey suggests that while voters are worried about the economy, they do not want governments to ease off on measures to protect the environment and combat global warming.

On the key question, 67 per cent of those asked said the environment should be just as much as priority for governments as tackling economic problems, with only 26 per cent saying it was a secondary concern.

The result was generally shared among Canadians, regardless of gender, annual salary, political affiliation or where they live. However, men, Conservative supporters and those in the West were most likely to say the economy is the top priority.

But even among Conservative supporters, a majority of 53 per cent felt the environment should not take a back seat to the economy.

As well, the vast majority of respondents felt governments were not doing enough on the environment, with 74 per cent saying governmental focus on the issue was not going far enough.

Harris-Decima vice president Jeff Walker said the results were somewhat surprising, since it is generally the case that other issues are often placed on the back burner during tough economic times.

But that doesn't appear to be the mood of Canadians now, despite the fact that over 400,000 jobs have vanished since October and economists and politicians warn unemployment will likely increase further in the next few months.

"In contrast to prevailing views that environmental efforts recede in a recession, Canadians continue to integrate environmentally sustainable behaviours into their lives, and overwhelmingly believe much more can and should be done," said Walker.

The telephone survey of 1,000, which was conducted in the last week of July, also suggests Canadians are starting to do their bit to protect the environment.

Seventy-three per cent said they were making more of an effort to be environmentally conscious in their behaviour than they were a year ago.

And a similar number - 71 per cent - said environmental issues are becoming more important to them personally than they were a few years ago.

A political divide was found on all questions dealing with the environment, with fewer Conservatives -although not a majority - taking environmentally-friendly positions than supporters of the other parties.

Perhaps another surprise in the survey findings is that most Canadians do not see environmentally friendly products and services as overly costly.

While 60 per cent believe making the environmentally friendly choice is more costly in the short term, a plurality of 46 per cent said the costs even out over the long term.

A significant minority of 39 per cent still say making the environmentally friendly choice in products and services will be more costly even in the longer term, however.

The poll was part of a telephone omnibus survey and is said to be accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.

The interesting part, really, is the one that say that even in the Conservative backers, a majority want Environment and Economy as equal priorities - during though economic times.

This is probably bad news for the Green party (as a party; as far as their personal objectives go, though, they might like it), paradoxally, at least in the mid-term, because the likely outcome is all the parties trying to be green.

 

[Netto Azure]

Well as per the US third-parties. Their priorities are usually incorporated into the platforms of at least 1 of the 2 Major Parties.

Heck the Canadian Liberals based off their whole 2008 Snap Election campaign on the Carbon Tax. XD

Yet that ended a bit disastrously as the economy tanked. @~@

 

[Zephy]

I'd have to say this is good. I'm all for helping the environment. Zephy is a tree-hugger...

 

[The Golden Tyranitar]

Hooray!

 

[H-con]

If everybody does something, then we'll get a long way. That's why I'm always use my bicycle when I'm going somewhere in town. Plus, it's better for me, so everybody gains on it!
But in the upcoming election over here, I consider the environment a vital issue to deal with. No party that don't take this issue seriously gets my vote.

 

[Valdez]

This is probably bad news for the Green party (as a party; as far as their personal objectives go, though, they might like it), paradoxally, at least in the mid-term, because the likely outcome is all the parties trying to be green.

Another Harris-Decima poll (or it may be the same one with the question just not covered in the article) also found that 40% of Canadians want to see Elizabeth May win a seat in the House of Commons. I'd say that's more promising than it was even a year ago.

 

[Eredar Warlock]

I consider environmentalism to be too extremist. While I agree that we should take care of what we have, environmentalists take things waaay too far.

 

[Valdez]

I consider environmentalism to be too extremist. While I agree that we should take care of what we have, environmentalists take things waaay too far.

Please, we aren't talking ecoterrorists here. It's an ideology that we need to better protect and conserve what we have, so we will still have it in the future.

 

[Eredar Warlock]

Please, we aren't talking ecoterrorists here. It's an ideology that we need to better protect and conserve what we have, so we will still have it in the future.

I understand it. But statements like "We only have four months to save the planet from total ecological collapse" is just propaganda and really harmful to the debate.

 

[Valdez]

I understand it. But statements like "We only have four months to save the planet from total ecological collapse" is just propaganda and really harmful to the debate.

And were in the article (or for that related matter, the Green Party platform) does it say anything like that? The article is about Canadians becoming more concerned about pollution, deforestation, and the ilk. I don't see any prooganda in there at all.

 

[Eredar Warlock]

I'm speaking about the green movement and environmentalism in general. I think it was one of the British princes that made that statement as a lead up to an environmental summit that's coming up.

 

[Valdez]

I'm speaking about the green movement and environmentalism in general.

Uh, what?

Lobbying to designate a section of forest as protected is not extreme.
Carpooling to reduce pollution is not extreme.
Recycling and composting are not extreme.
Reducing energy consumption is not extreme.
Asking for increased funding in the research of thermal energy is not extreme.

Ramming whaling ships with your own boat is.
Stringing wire across snowmobile paths in winter is.
Sabotaging a coal-burning plant is.

You're talking about the most radical and extreme environmentalists, which is a considerable minority. To generalize and say that covers the entire environmentalist movement is really poor form. You may as well say that all pet owners are radical PETA members, which is obviously not the case.