{"id":1680,"date":"2026-01-06T13:21:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/tl\/around-60-of-canadians-seek-strong-action-on-wildfires-even-as-climate-change-drops-on-priority-list\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T21:55:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T21:55:52","slug":"around-60-of-canadians-seek-strong-action-on-wildfires-even-as-climate-change-drops-on-priority-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/climate-action\/around-60-of-canadians-seek-strong-action-on-wildfires-even-as-climate-change-drops-on-priority-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Survey: Around 60% of Canadians seek strong action on wildfires even as climate change drops on priority list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tClimate Action\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tConsumer Survey: Around 60% of Canadians seek strong action on wildfires even as climate change drops on priority list\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tWhat 2,000 Canadians said about their climate priorities\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Climate change may have slipped on Canadians\u2019 priority list, but it remains front and centre when it hits closest to home\u2014most notably in the form of wildfires inflicting property damage, raising insurance costs and impacting health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s one of the key findings of RBC Climate Action\u2019s latest consumer survey, which polled 2,000 Canadians. The survey is part of the Institute\u2019s third annual Climate Action report, which reviews Canada\u2019s progress on its environmental goals. (The full report is out Tuesday, January 13.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerns around climate change has ebbed and flowed in tandem with Canadians\u2019 economic prospects. In last year\u2019s Climate Action report, 14% of respondents reported climate change as one of their top three concerns, down from 26% in 2019. This is consistent with the general observation that climate change, while important, ranks below pocketbook issues such as the cost of living and job security. When the economy is strong and jobs are secure, people can \u2018afford\u2019 to prioritize climate action. In times of economic stress, climate change tends to be de-prioritized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s consumer survey, conducted by market research firm Ipsos, again finds Canadians focused more on the economy, jobs and personal finances. However, the frequency of extreme weather events ensures that environmental issues continue to simmer just under the surface.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we heard in the survey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n