British Columbians doubt greenhouse gas targets achievable: poll
Last Updated: Monday, September 22, 2008 | 9:46 AM PT
CBC News
Most British Columbians think the province is going to have a tough time reaching the government's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2020, a new CBC poll shows.
The poll conducted by Ipsos Reid for CBC News found two-thirds of those surveyed said they're not confident the province can meet the target set by Premier Gordon Campbell in September 2007.
The poll also showed that concerns about the environment and global warming no longer dominate the list of top provincial issues for British Columbians, as they did just a year ago.
"It's certainly surprising given the trend we were looking at. At this time last year...the environment was right up there at the top of the issue priority list in British Columbia, really challenging health care for the first time in a decade," said pollster Kyle Braid.
The new poll showed health care, poverty, gasoline prices and the economy rank ahead of the environment as the main concern of British Columbians.
"It does suggest that, while we certainly are still a green province, we're also concerned about our pocketbooks, and those issues often trump the environment," said Braid.
And while motorists may fret about gas prices, 21 per cent of people polled said they would not change their driving habits, no matter what the cost.
The survey also found that 41 per cent of those surveyed believed more frequent public transit service was the best way to encourage more use of buses and other services, while 24 per cent said nothing could be done to increase their use of public transit.
The survey of 900 people was conducted from Sept. 3 to 9, and is considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.3 per cent 19 times out of 20.
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