According to a poll released Thursday by the Pembina Institute, British Columbians support carbon taxes and are confident that taking action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution will have a minimal impact on the provincial economy.
The poll was released on the eve of the July 1, when a scheduled $25 per-tonne increase on carbon emissions took effect.
According to the poll, 69% of British Columbians are worried about climate change and 70% want the province to continue showing leadership on the issue without waiting for other jurisdictions to take similar steps.
The most popular choice for new carbon tax revenue was applying it to government priorities like health care and education, while the second choice was investing in climate change initiatives like transit.
Matt Horne, director of B.C. Energy Solutions, said “Applying the carbon tax as fairly as possible and investing revenue in priorities like health care, education and green projects appear to be good ways of building more public support for the carbon tax.”
Tom Pedersen, executive director of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, which provided funding for the polling and analysis added, “This is an endorsement by British Columbians of the internationally recognized leadership that this province has taken in dealing with the critical issue of global warming, while spurring the clean technology development that will help drive our 21st century economy.”
Jennifer Harrison
Twitter: JHarrisonBIV