SURVEY: Environment and climate key to quality of life

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) revealed in January the results of a public opinion poll it commissioned in the summer of 2018. The online survey, conducted by McAllister Opinion Research, questioned the views of 1,658 British Columbians on quality of life, sustainable economy, local needs, land protection, penalties for polluters, First Nations as partners, and regionally specific concerns.

“Poll findings help to quantify the needs and opinions of the people of British Columbia,” says Jack Wong, CEO of the REFBC. “Climate change is a large concern for people across the province and we hope that decision-makers will use this data to make choices that are in the best interests for everyone.”

Highlights from the report include:

Quality of Life:

Slightly more than half of the respondents (54 per cent) rate quality of life in their region of BC as “excellent” or “good”. Forty-one per cent named natural beauty and the environment as a top factor and 22 per cent cited the climate. Top threats to quality of life are the cost of living (18 per cent), housing (11 per cent), and population increase (11 per cent).

Sustainability:

Of those questioned, 81 per cent support harsh penalties, including jail time, for people and companies who pollute or degrade the land and water. When asked to identify the kind of economy that would appeal to them, 53 per cent say a sustainable one, 30 per cent prefer a clean energy economy, and 25 per cent want a green economy. Nine per cent prefer a service economy, nine per cent an industrial one and three per cent an extraction economy.

Local Needs:

Nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) want local needs prioritized over provincial interests.

Land Protection:

BCers say “habitat for birds, fish, and animals” (66 per cent), “local food security” (62 per cent) and “large-scale wind, solar, and geothermal power” (61 per cent ) are the top three land use priorities for the province.

First Nations:

When it comes to ensuring First Nations are included in land-use decisions, 86 per cent of respondents agree that “we are neighbours and friends and we need to live together.”

“These findings show that British Columbians value our shared land and water and want to see more local input into land-use decisions,” says Ramona Faust, chair of REFBC’s board of governors.

“In our grant-making, we’ve seen how investments in watershed governance, community engagement, and public outreach can contribute to more sustainable land use outcomes.”

To read the full report, go to refbc.com