Montreal, June 10th, 2020 - A Léger poll, conducted from May 29th to June 2nd [1] and commissioned by the Communauté de pratique sur la communication climatique au Québec [2], shows that Quebecers prioritize social and environmental issues in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and want the government to do the same or more to fight climate change. The survey also shows that Quebec's consensus in favour of fighting climate change and protecting the environment remains strong.
Very clearly, two-thirds of Quebecers would like to see a way out of the crisis that puts health, quality of life and the environment first and foremost, above the simple resumption of economic growth. For respondents, the current crisis is an opportunity to improve quality of life and iron out inequalities, in a context of green and solidarity-based recovery. Evidently, a strong majority of Quebecers do not want things to return to the way they were before.
The survey sought to determine whether the strong social consensus in favour of strong action on climate change still persists, despite the current context, and whether economic concerns have pushed environmental issues out of the minds of Quebecers. The results are conclusive:
Maintaining the strong consensus in favour of the environment
83% of Quebecers want the government to do the same or more to fight climate change and protect the environment. 75% of Quebecers consider themselves very concerned about environmental problems in general and 72% consider that it is urgent to act to fight climate change and protect the environment. These results are essentially the same as those obtained in surveys conducted in the fall of 2019.
A just transition takes precedence over the economy
By choice, 67% of Quebecers want a Quebec that has emerged from the COVID-19 crisis to prioritize health, the environment, and quality of life first and foremost, rather than economic growth (30%).
Quebecers are still very clearly concerned about the environment, despite the pandemic. A strong majority of Quebecers reject the idea of abolishing environmental regulations to help businesses "get back on track,” an idea supported by only 8% of respondents. These results send a strong alarm signal to the government which, with its Bill 61, aims to put forward an economic recovery plan accelerating the approval of new infrastructure projects to the detriment of essential environmental assessments.
Signatories: Greenpeace Canada, Laval en transition, The Climate Reality Project Canada, Le Pacte pour la transition, Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec - FTQ, David Suzuki Foundation, Équiterre, Réseau des femmes en environnement, Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain-CSN, Synergie Santé Environnement, Association québécoise des médecins pour l'environnement (AQME), Vivre en Ville, Accès transports viables
-30-
Full survey available here (in French only).
Notes:
1. The survey was conducted among 1,000 Quebecers, aged 18 years or older, who could express themselves in English or French.
2. All the signatories of this press release are members of the Communauté de pratique sur la communication climatique au Québec. This community aims to collectively improve the impact and effectiveness of climate communication in Quebec. It includes members of formal or citizen civil society organizations, the environmental community, health, labour, businesses, and individuals.
For more information, please contact:
Anthony Côté Leduc, Media Relations Officer, Équiterre
acoteleduc@equiterre.org; +1 514 605-2000
Marie-Christine Fiset, Media Officer, Greenpeace Canada
mfiset@greenpeace.org; +1 514 972-6316
Rima Chaaban, Communications Advisor, FTQ
rchaaban@ftq.qc.ca; +1 514 806-9162
Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers, Doctor, Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement (AQME)
claudel.pdesrosiers@gmail.com; +1 438 831-0594
Montreal, June 10th, 2020 - A Léger poll, conducted from May 29th to June 2nd [1] and commissioned by the Communauté de pratique sur la communication climatique au Québec [2], shows that Quebecers prioritize social and environmental issues in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and want the government to do the same or more to fight climate change. The survey also shows that Quebec's consensus in favour of fighting climate change and protecting the environment remains strong.
Very clearly, two-thirds of Quebecers would like to see a way out of the crisis that puts health, quality of life and the environment first and foremost, above the simple resumption of economic growth. For respondents, the current crisis is an opportunity to improve quality of life and iron out inequalities, in a context of green and solidarity-based recovery. Evidently, a strong majority of Quebecers do not want things to return to the way they were before.
The survey sought to determine whether the strong social consensus in favour of strong action on climate change still persists, despite the current context, and whether economic concerns have pushed environmental issues out of the minds of Quebecers. The results are conclusive:
Maintaining the strong consensus in favour of the environment
83% of Quebecers want the government to do the same or more to fight climate change and protect the environment. 75% of Quebecers consider themselves very concerned about environmental problems in general and 72% consider that it is urgent to act to fight climate change and protect the environment. These results are essentially the same as those obtained in surveys conducted in the fall of 2019.
A just transition takes precedence over the economy
By choice, 67% of Quebecers want a Quebec that has emerged from the COVID-19 crisis to prioritize health, the environment, and quality of life first and foremost, rather than economic growth (30%).
Quebecers are still very clearly concerned about the environment, despite the pandemic. A strong majority of Quebecers reject the idea of abolishing environmental regulations to help businesses "get back on track,” an idea supported by only 8% of respondents. These results send a strong alarm signal to the government which, with its Bill 61, aims to put forward an economic recovery plan accelerating the approval of new infrastructure projects to the detriment of essential environmental assessments.
Signatories: Greenpeace Canada, Laval en transition, The Climate Reality Project Canada, Le Pacte pour la transition, Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec - FTQ, David Suzuki Foundation, Équiterre, Réseau des femmes en environnement, Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain-CSN, Synergie Santé Environnement, Association québécoise des médecins pour l'environnement (AQME), Vivre en Ville, Accès transports viables
-30-
Full survey available here (in French only).
Notes:
1. The survey was conducted among 1,000 Quebecers, aged 18 years or older, who could express themselves in English or French.
2. All the signatories of this press release are members of the Communauté de pratique sur la communication climatique au Québec. This community aims to collectively improve the impact and effectiveness of climate communication in Quebec. It includes members of formal or citizen civil society organizations, the environmental community, health, labour, businesses, and individuals.
For more information, please contact:
Anthony Côté Leduc, Media Relations Officer, Équiterre
acoteleduc@equiterre.org; +1 514 605-2000
Marie-Christine Fiset, Media Officer, Greenpeace Canada
mfiset@greenpeace.org; +1 514 972-6316
Rima Chaaban, Communications Advisor, FTQ
rchaaban@ftq.qc.ca; +1 514 806-9162
Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers, Doctor, Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement (AQME)
claudel.pdesrosiers@gmail.com; +1 438 831-0594