April 21, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada think the world can deal successfully with climate change, according to a poll by Leger Marketing. 62 per cent of respondents think global warming can still be curbed, while 23 per cent expect it to produce a disaster that could destroy the planet.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada think the world can deal successfully with climate change, according to a poll by Leger Marketing. 62 per cent of respondents think global warming can still be curbed, while 23 per cent expect it to produce a disaster that could destroy the planet.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Canada is one of 141 nations to have ratified the revised agreement, which came into effect in February 2005.

In July 2005 at the G-8 summit in Perthshire, Scotland, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States promised to implement a "new dialogue" on climate change, deeming the issue a "serious long-term challenge" for the planet. 36 per cent of respondents blame the indifference of companies that pollute, 28 per cent decry the lack of effective measures taken by governments, and 28 per cent believe global warming is simply inevitable.

During his time in opposition, current prime minister and Conservative leader Stephen Harper criticized the inclusion of funds for the "fatally flawed" Kyoto protocol on climate change in the federal budget.

Polling Data

In your opinion, can global warming still be curbed or will it produce a disaster that could destroy the planet?

It can still be curbed	62%
It will produce a disaster that will destroy the planet	23%
Don't know / Refusal	15%

Who is responsible for global warming?

The indifference of companies that pollute	36%
The lack of effective measures taken by governments	28%
Global warming is inevitable, no matter what we do	28%
Don't know / Refusal	9%

Source: Leger Marketing
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,500 Canadian adults, conducted from Mar. 21 to Mar. 26, 2006. Margin of error is 2.6 per cent.