Results from a national survey commissioned by the Carbon Business Council and Carbon Removal Canada paint a solid acceptance of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) among the Canadian population.
According to the national poll results, nearly two-thirds of Canadians (64%) support carbon removal initiatives, while four in five people (81%) find removals essential for the country’s strong and stable future.
What’s more, the results showed notable CDR optimism in citizens across a wide range of the political spectrum, where 77% of Liberal voters, 76% of NDP voters, and 51% of Conservative voters expressed support for carbon removal.
To date, Canada has demonstrated a serious commitment to advancing CDR technologies, evident in decisions made both on a federal and provincial level.
The newly released national poll results seem to confirm this visionary perspective among the population, signaling that the majority of people welcome further action in this direction.
In a regional overview, the survey showed that Quebec (74%) and Ontario (68%) are the frontrunners in CDR support.
The motivation behind this CDR approval seems to reflect each province’s own interest, as British Columbia is driven by the idea of securing an innovation leadership edge, Saskatchewan and Manitoba see CDR as a tool to unlock agricultural co-benefits, and Atlantic Canada considers it a climate resilience lever.
A prime indicator of the nation’s openness to CDR is the fact that more than half of the surveyed Canadians (54%) stated familiarity with durable carbon removal methods, evidencing a lively interest in this topic.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of Canadians shared they are more likely to support political candidates if they are on board with CDR, while 56% stated they warm up more to companies that invest in carbon removal.
Relevant: New Policy Primer By Carbon Business Council Offers Pointers On Advancing CDR In Canada
Additionally, two-thirds of the survey respondents (67%) recognize CDR’s potential for job creation and economic opportunities, while a strong majority of individuals support policy measures such as corporate standards (66%), climate strategy integration (63%), tax incentives (61%), streamlined permitting (60%), innovation funding (60%), and government procurement (59%).
When it comes to CDR, people seem to agree most on the social aspect of it, with 87% of survey respondents saying community consultation should be required for local projects.
Read more: New Carbon Console Tool Showcases The CDR Sector In Canada
