Residents taking steps to reduce carbon footprint

Regular Metro folks seem to have more desire to do so than politicians, Evi Mustel and Miro Cernetig write.

As Canada's governments wrangle the carbon tax, eye-popping population growth, and how green the country should be to fight climate change, there's some interesting news from the grassroots of Metro Vancouver.

While eight out of 10 people say they are concerned or very concerned about Metro Vancouver's carbon footprint — the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted into the air — 70 per cent don't expect the leaders of the region's 22 municipalities can get to net zero.

So, people are taking things into their own hands in some surprising ways that will have impacts on consumer spending and government policy. Here are some of the key findings of our survey:

■ Going vegan is in vogue. Two out of three people report they are going at least a bit granola. To do their bit to get to net zero, 46 per cent of respondents say they are already eating plant-based foods some or all the time. Another 20 per cent are prepared to do so. Thirty-four per cent are rejecting the soy solution.

■ Clothing retailers beware. Eight out of 10 people are giving up their Gucci or Gap. Reducing new clothing purchases, or buying used clothes, is now the declared habit of 62 per cent of Metro Vancouver consumers. Another 17 per cent are prepared to go for the more threadbare option.

■ Post-pandemic public transit is back. Two out of three people are ready to give up the gas guzzlers. Forty-four per cent of people already use public transit or low-emissions travel, while another 22 per cent are ready to leave the car behind.

■ Bye-bye jet setting: Six out of 10 people are reducing their air travel or prepared

Recycling and stopping food waste is deeply embedded into the Metro ... psyche.

to do so. Specifically, 42 per cent of people report they have reduced or are now reducing air travel. Another 18 per cent say they are prepared to avoid airports and air miles.

■ Recycling and stopping food waste is deeply embedded into the Metro Vancouver psyche. Recycling and limiting food waste is now a part of their way of life, 88 per cent of people report. Another eight per cent say they are prepared to follow suit. The anti-recycling Luddites now represent a mere five per cent of the population.

■ Are EVs and heat pumps popular? Yes, they're catching on, with about 20 per cent of people saying they have bought both items. Still, it's worth noting that more people have planted trees, with one out of three people choosing trees over tech. So there's more work ahead to sell these more expensive low-carbon technologies.

■ And forget carbon offsets. They just aren't going mainstream. Only eight per cent of people have ever bought a personal carbon offset. Seven out of 10 have no intention to do so.

The survey results are based on a Mustel Group poll of 400 Metro Vancouver adults conducted from Jan. 10-22 with a margin of error of plus or minus five per cent.

What are the valuable insights of these findings?

They indicate there are clear lifestyle and purchasing shifts that Metro Vancouver's 2.6 million residents are embracing. We suspect similar trends will be found in other Canadian regions.

One of the key take-aways for our leaders is that while there is skepticism about the ability of politicians and governments to get Canada or cities to net zero, Canadians have a clear desire to move to that future through their own everyday actions.

We invite readers and policymakers to look at the data from this survey, carried out for CityAge by the Mustel Group. It's clear the majority believe in the net zero future.