One-third of Canadians report being directly affected by extreme weather conditions. But it did not change the overall opinion about climate change. This is what has emerged in a new study by Ledger.
According to the survey, one in three Canadians reported being directly exposed to extreme weather events such as wildfires, wildfires, floods or tornadoes. Ledger asked the same question in 2023. At that time, one in four Canadians reported experiencing damage due to extreme weather.
The previous study was conducted during the record-breaking 2023 wildfire season. The latest survey was conducted online Aug. 16-18, amid another above-average wildfire season. After news of parts of the beloved Jasper National Park engulfed in flames. Also amid a record-breaking rainy summer for residents of the nation’s largest city.
A major rainstorm caused flooding in mid-July. The loss of the insured property is about 100 million dollars.
Except for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, more people than ever were affected by extreme weather. Only in Manitoba and Saskatchewan did the rate remain unchanged at 21 percent. This rate has increased the most. 43 percent of residents reported experiencing extreme weather this year, up 22 percent from 2023. In Quebec, the rate rose from 25 to 41 percent. And in Ontario, it rose 13 percentage points to 31 percent.
Almost half of Atlantic Canadian residents surveyed reported experiencing damage from extreme weather. One-third of what it was a year ago.
