Report | A guide to bringing the Canadian public along the road
This study brings the Canadian public’s perspective into the complex discussions about how to achieve the net zero transition by 2050. For two weeks in November 2021, COP26 in Glasgow is the epicentre of humanity’s efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
As 20,000 government leaders and their negotiators – as well as climate scientists, business leaders, and environmental organizations – hammer out what needs to be achieved in the next 30 years, it’s worth asking: where is the public in all this?
Public understanding about the urgency of climate action lags behind the experts. This creates risk that public support will falter when faced with bumps in the road to a decarbonized economy. To overcome this:
- The public needs to see their institutions (including media, scientists, and governments) collaborating to amplify each other’s strengths, and ultimately, pulling in the same direction.
- Address public doubt that climate goals can be achieved, by demonstrating successful ways to reduce carbon emissions.
- Deliver on the public’s expectation that achieving net zero will be mostly beneficial for individuals and society, by ensuring no-one is left behind.
