Climate change is once again rising on Canadians' political agenda, posing fresh challenges for Prime Minister Mark Carney, according to a survey published by Angus Reid Institute on Wednesday.
The Angus Reid survey shows that, amid widespread wildfires in Canada, the US and Europe, the share of Canadians ranking climate change among their top concerns has risen from 14% to 21% over the past four months, a 50% increase.
Meanwhile, Carney's approval rating has slipped to 51% from February's 60%, according to Angus Reid. This increases pressure on the government amid renewed scrutiny over climate policy.
The government's approach to environmental policy has changed on carbon pricing compared with the direction set under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The shift in direction led Trudeau's former environment minister, Steven Guilbeault, to resign from Carney's cabinet, warning that Canada was backsliding on climate action.
The Angus Reid survey was conducted between Saturday and Monday with 1,770 respondents.