Poll shows Albertans do care about their environment

From the Calgary Herald:

Albertans are known across the country for their entrepreneurial attitude, but in a new greener world, more people now say they value the environment over economic growth. As Canada's economy endures jitters and there are signs of a slowdown in Alberta, there's a growing debate over how far the province should go to protect air, water and land. In a wide-ranging poll to gauge Albertans' attitudes about balancing economic progress and environmental protection, well over half of Albertans (58 per cent) say governments should take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- even if it means limiting economic development or eliminating jobs -- while 29 per cent disagree.

But the story also acknowledges that those numbers drop off quite considerably if respondents are asked to choose between doing what's right for the environment and protecting one's own source of income, one's job.

Generally, though, it reflects what most Albertans have been thinking for quite some time. An economic boom is something good, but a superboom that elevates inflation to unprecedented levels, creates difficulties for employers finding the necessary workers and multiplies the cost of infrastructure projects planned by municipalities or the province is not so good.

Former premier Peter Lougheed has also been calling for a slower development of the oilsands for the last two years or so.

Albertans are surrounded by the most beautiful nature on Earth. Of course, they want to protect it. What matters to Albertans is having clean air and water. Nor do they like it very much when innocent animals are killed.

Comments

[Aaron]

What people say and what they actually do are two separate things., as the article suggests.

The ranks of those who prize environmental protection are especially strong among Albertans aged 18 to 34, he noted. "They're very 'in the now,' " he said. "The environment trumps the money and toys right now for many youngsters."

But with one in six Albertans directly employed by the energy industry, and the province enjoying wealth that still measures favourably against the rest of North America, experts wonder if people are being truthful when they profess to treasure soil, water and trees more than their potential earnings.

"Not for a second," said Andrew Leach, a professor of energy and environmental economics at the University of Alberta's school of business. "They value it when it's free."

The online poll surveyed 962 Albertans aged 18 and over between Aug. 25-29. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The ATV and backwoods 4x4 set probably didn't have time to interrupt their weekend raping of stream beds in order to log onto the polling site to complete the survey.