|
Corporate Social Responsibility
News
3.31.2006 ET
|
CSR News from:
|
James Hoggan and Associates
|
|
News Category:
|
|
Nine in 10 Canadians Fear Our Lifestyle is Not Sustainable
Most Blame Lack of Government Leadership
(CSRwire) VANCOUVER, B.C. -- More than eight in 10 Canadians believe the
government should enact stricter laws and regulations to support a more
sustainable economy that protects and manages the country's resources for
future generations. These findings were based on a cross-Canada survey of
2,500 Canadians presented today by James Hoggan and Associates at the
GLOBE 2006 Trade Fair in Vancouver.
The survey also found that:
92% of Canadians surveyed agree Canada should phase in mandatory
standards requiring all new buildings and appliances to deliver 50% more
energy efficiency within 10 years;
83% agree Canada should reduce taxes on income, payroll and
investment, and replace these with taxes on pollution and depletion of
natural resources; and
82% agree Canada should introduce laws to promote denser, walkable
cities that would make public transit more practical and reduce traffic
congestion.
McAllister Opinion Research of Vancouver conducted the survey in all
provinces except Quebec, between February 14 and 21, 2006.
Jim Hoggan, President of James Hoggan and Associates, said the survey
demonstrates that Canadians want the economy to be successful today while
sustaining the country's environmental, economic and social resources for
future generations.
"More than 90 per cent of Canadians fear that over-consumption of the
world's resources threatens the health and welfare of their children --
and lack of government leadership is the biggest cause of the problem,"
Hoggan said. "Asked why Canadians don't behave more sustainably, 48 per
cent of Canadians blame government leadership first."
More than seven in 10 Canadians surveyed agree with the statement: "If
everyone in the world lived the consumer lifestyle we enjoy in North
America, we would destroy the planet."
Hoggan also said companies and organizations need to do a better job of
explaining the term "sustainability". The survey found that 53 per cent of
respondents were not familiar with the term "sustainability", and 70 per
cent of respondents could not define the term.
"Most Canadians don't know what sustainability means. The term means
different things to different people. The result is that most companies
and organizations are talking to themselves and a small group of insiders
when they use the term," said Hoggan.
"You can't influence an audience until you understand where they are on an
issue," said Hoggan. "This research goes a long way to identifying
Canadians' values on sustainability and addressing barriers and how to
overcome them. This is important because as public opinion goes, so goes
sustainability."
The research found that once the term sustainability was defined, over 80%
of Canadians ranked sustainability as a high or top national priority.
The survey is part of the Sustainability Research Initiative, the most
comprehensive research program ever undertaken on the views and values of
Canadians on the issue of sustainability. The Sustainability Research
Initiative (SRI), led by James Hoggan and Associates and the Globe
Foundation, with research firms McAllister Opinion Research,
StoryTellings™ and Daniel Yankelovich's company, ViewPoint Learning,
set out to investigate how members of the public and opinion leaders think
about sustainability.
Sponsors include BC Hydro, University of British Columbia, Greater
Vancouver Regional District, Canadian Pacific Railway, Concord Pacific,
David Suzuki Foundation, The Ethical Funds Company, Lefebvre Foundation,
Fraser Basin Council, International Centre for Sustainable Cities, Alcan
Inc. and the Port of Vancouver.
|
|
