New polling shows the environment remains an issue of high concern for B.C. voters

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories (VANCOUVER, B.C.)  – New polling shows environmental issues and climate change are of high concern to voters in the lead-up to the provincial election in British Columbia. Candidates should commit to swift action on forest and water protections, and implementing green building strategies.

In a survey of B.C. residents conducted by Leger on behalf of Organizing for Change – a coalition of 12 of the largest environmental groups in the province – 76% of B.C. residents say they are concerned about climate change. The concern is highest among those intending to vote for the B.C. NDP, at 92%.

Old growth remains a key issue for voters, with 76% of B.C. residents responding that it is important that the B.C. government uphold their commitment to temporarily defer logging in the largest and most at-risk old growth forests in B.C. The issue is more important for residents intending to vote for the B.C. NDP, at 87%, and highest for those intending to vote B.C. Green, at 92%. 

The impact of climate change and forest management practices, including clearcutting, have contributed to increased fire risk and severity in B.C. When it comes to who voters trust to make decisions about forest management to reduce wildfire risk, B.C. residents have the most trust in wildfire ecologists, followed by provincial ecologists and First Nations. Overall, logging companies have the lowest amount of trust among B.C. residents, below professional foresters working for logging companies and those working for the province. Environmental organizations rank in the middle.

“Political candidates must convince voters that they are willing to take decisive, immediate action to keep forests standing and protect the building blocks of life,” said Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner at Stand.earth. “Every day, more and more of the rarest forests are lost to logging – the situation is even worse than when B.C. last went to the polls. B.C. deserves leaders who will face the climate catastrophe head-on.”

The poll also found that just 10% of British Columbians support government policies for a major expansion of fracking, with 42% supporting a phase out of fracking, and a further 34% supporting limiting fracking operations to their current scale. However, decisions made by the current government, including approving new LNG terminals, are projected to lead to the number of fracking wells in B.C. increasing by 150% over the next two decades.

“Increasingly British Columbians understand that fracking is B.C.’s biggest climate problem. They know we must stop expanding this dangerous form of fossil fuel extraction and begin the work of creating a plan to phase it out over time,” said Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director at Stand.earth. “Any new government will need to acknowledge that it’s not just the scientists and the economists who want an end to this harmful industry – it’s an overwhelming number of people in B.C. Now is the time to build a more sustainable economy powered by renewable energy and that is the kind of leadership voters will be looking for this fall.”

The impact of fracking on water was a key concern among B.C. residents, with nearly seven in ten (69%) agreeing that the provincial government should introduce new measures to reduce and regulate freshwater use by oil and gas companies, particularly for fracking. Agreement is higher among those intending to vote BC NDP and Green, at 84% each.

Policies for green buildings are also highly important to B.C. residents. Two-thirds (67%) of residents agree that the province should expand current policies promoting energy efficiency and cost savings to require technologies like heat pumps be installed in all new buildings in Metro Vancouver and other warmer climate areas in B.C. The sentiment is stronger among those with a BC Green voting intention (83%) and a BC NDP voting intention (80%).

“As technologies advance and older ways of heating homes like using natural gas become obsolete, we should replace them with safer, more sustainable options like heat pumps that are readily available,” said Sunil Singal, SAFE Cities Campaigner at Stand.earth. “Heat pumps provide energy efficiency and cost savings, and a majority of B.C. residents agree – the province should require these updated technologies to heat and cool new buildings now. Buildings that are constructed today will likely still be around in 2050, so why not build them correctly the first time, instead of having costly retrofits down the road?”

Leger was commissioned to conduct this online survey of 1,001 British Columbians, aged 19 and older between May 30 and June 10, 2024. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ± 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results were weighted by age, gender, and region to ensure a representative sample of B.C. residents.

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Media contacts:
Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner, tegan@stand.earth (Pacific Time)
Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director, sven@stand.earth (Pacific Time)
Sunil Singal, SAFE Cities Campaigner, sunil.singal@stand.earth (Pacific Time)
Kathryn Semogas, Canada Communications Specialist, kathryn.semogas@stand.earth (Eastern Time)