Surveys show trust in scientists over politicians on climate issues

While fear of environmental disasters is high, so is optimism about renewable energy solutions — with scientists earning far more public trust than politicians.

Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora has been engaged in community outreach for several years. One example of this outreach is being part of the vibrant, community-feel farmers’ markets, where we meet up with folks to advocate for clean energy, healthier living and having community voices heard.

In communities across Ontario, people are thinking about climate change not as a distant threat, but as a daily reality. Caregivers worry about the air their children breathe; neighbours notice the increasing frequency of storms, heat waves, and droughts; and young people wonder what kind of world they will inherit.

In these conversations, like at a recent café we held, a clear pattern emerges: While residents often feel let down by political leaders, they can also see hope in science, renewable energy, local initiatives, and collective action to move things beyond policy statements.

Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora has seen these hopes and fears build first-hand over the past three years. Far more people come to our tent and no longer avoid eye contact as they pass by. They see that we don’t bite and actually that we want to listen, engage in discussions, and share experiences and information.

This September, we tried an informal Make Your Mark ‘touchbase’ at the Newmarket and Aurora markets to try to give folks a voice. It revealed both the fears that weigh on residents’ minds, from wildfires and floods to social instability and the risks to future generations, and the hopes that inspire them, including solar and wind energy, energy storage, community progress, and the work of scientists and activists.

Participants in both communities consistently show significantly less faith in political leadership compared to scientists, local initiatives, and clean-energy innovation.

This local touchbase in Newmarket and Aurora mirrors a broader trend found in recent Canadian research (since November 2023). National and provincial data from the Environics Institute (2024), Re.Climate Public Opinion Summaries (2024-25), Ipsos Earth Day/Climate Reports (2023-24), Impact Canada PARCA Tracking (2025), and analyses from Abacus/Angus Reid (2023-24) all show the same pattern: While Canadians broadly support climate action and renewable solutions, trust in political leadership is comparatively low, with greater confidence placed in scientists, innovators, and local community initiatives.

Ontario-specific results in these reports reinforce this alignment, highlighting a persistent gap between public hope and political action.

More specifically, when asked about climate fears, residents of Newmarket and Aurora expressed deep concern about both immediate climate hazards and long-term systemic risks. The most common fears included fire, drought, heat, storms, flooding, social instability, and risks to future generations.

Open-ended responses added worries about food supply instability, biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, threats to Indigenous communities, legislative rollbacks, disinformation, and the influence of the fossil-fuel industry.

Together, these concerns reflect a community that feels increasingly vulnerable to both environmental disruption and political inaction.

Despite these fears, residents identified strong sources of hope rooted in science, clean-energy innovation, and visible local progress. The greatest optimism centred on solar and wind energy, scientists, energy storage, geothermal, community activism, and emerging political leadership. Additional hopes included improved waste management, expanded education on climate action, sustainable business practices, hydrogen and nuclear innovation, global co-operation, and the commitment of future generations. Overall, the community believes evidence-based leadership and rapid clean-energy solutions can still secure a safer, more resilient future.

Both the fears and hopes sections show politicians ranked far lower than almost every other category. In the fears list, several open-ended responses explicitly cited political inaction, politicians, regulatory rollbacks, and the power of the fossil-fuel industry as core worries. In the hopes list, “politicians” received the lowest number of hopeful responses in both Newmarket and Aurora — far below scientists, renewable energy, or local progress.

As we each approach our diverse new year, it’s important to reflect on the past and learn for the future. How can we act differently today so the youth of tomorrow inherit a healthier, safer world? Which voices must rise louder to guide political leaders toward meaningful change? Which politicians will step up and meet our global commitments? And what steps can each of us take to turn hope into action? When we come together, the power of “yes” becomes unstoppable, transforming fears into courage and hope into real change.

Have a safe, healthy season, and remember: every action counts.

For more information on the informal touchbase, check out Events | Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora.

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Climate fear survey — Newmarket and Aurora

Residents of Newmarket and Aurora identified a wide range of climate-related fears, with strong consistency across both communities. When combined, the most common concerns included drought (67 responses), fire (80), heat (64), storms (60), social instability (60), flood (56), harm to kids and grandkids (57), and mass migration (40).

By community:

• Newmarket respondents were most concerned about fire (44), followed by drought (40), heat (38), storms (32), social instability (32), flooding (30), risks to kids and grandkids (29), and mass migration (19). Open-ended fears included reversing CO2-limiting legislation, pollution and toxins, the influence of the fossil-fuel industry, disinformation, lightning, climate change becoming irreversible, volcanoes, threats to pollinators and climate-sensitive vegetation, food supply instability, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, and harm to Indigenous communities.

• Aurora respondents expressed similar concerns, with the highest counts for fire (36), followed by flood (26), heat (26), drought (27), storms (28), risks to kids and grandkids (28), social instability (28), and mass migration (21). Open-ended concerns included lack of political leadership, the power of politicians, and the need for legislation that balances environmental protection with community benefits.

Overall themes:

Community members fear both immediate climate hazards (fires, heat, storms, flooding) and long-term systemic risks (drought, food instability, mass migration, ecological collapse, and political inaction). Many also link climate impacts with governance failures, disinformation, regulatory rollbacks, and threats to future generations and Indigenous communities.

Climate hope survey — Newmarket and Aurora

Residents of Newmarket and Aurora expressed strong climate hopes rooted in science, clean energy, and community action. Across both communities combined, the most frequently cited sources of hope were solar energy (63 responses), scientists (59), wind energy (51), local progress (48), energy storage (43), activism (37), geothermal energy (36), and political leadership (27).

By community:

• Newmarket respondents placed the greatest hope in scientists (34) and solar energy (34), followed by wind energy (29) and local progress (29). They also valued energy storage (25), geothermal energy (21), activism (20), and politicians (16). Open-ended hopes included Prime Minister Mark Carney becoming a climate advocate, sustainable packaging, improved waste management, new composting initiatives, better education on climate action, rewarding responsible businesses, hydrogen and nuclear advancements, mapping visible progress, global climate co-operation, strong youth leadership, China’s solar expansion, and political leaders (including Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre) embracing climate science.

• Aurora respondents similarly highlighted solar energy (29) and scientists (25), followed by wind energy (22), local progress (19), energy storage (18), activism (17), geothermal energy (15), and politicians (11). Open-ended hopes included leadership from Elizabeth May and greater political recognition of climate change, including internationally.

Overall themes:

People feel hopeful when they see evidence-based leadership, rapid clean-energy growth, and tangible local progress. Education emerged as a major theme — many believe broad public climate literacy is key to unlocking solutions. Respondents also expressed hope in innovation (solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, storage), global co-operation, and the next generation’s commitment to building a safer future.

Recent surveys (within the past two years; i.e., since Nov. 20, 2023) show the same pattern of our local survey revealed: relatively low public faith in politicians on climate, paired with stronger trust in scientists and optimism about clean-energy solutions. Below are the most relevant reports I found, with a one-line takeaway for each and a citation so you can check details.

• Environics Institute: “Addressing climate change in the Canadian federation” (2024); national tracking with provincial breakdowns; finds declining trust in governments and clear evidence that people look more to experts and non-political actors for credible climate action. Environics Institute+1

• Re.Climate: Public opinion summaries (2024-25); multi-report summaries of Canadian polling showing broad support for clean energy and science-based solutions, but large political/partisan divides and decreasing confidence in politicians and some climate policies. Re.Climate+1

• Ipsos: Earth Day/climate reports (2023-24); repeatedly finds most Canadians want government action on climate but also shows erosion of trust in political leadership and stronger confidence in scientists and renewables as solutions. Ipsos+1

• Impact Canada: PARCA Tracking (2025); behavioural-science tracking showing only about one-third of Canadians trust the federal government to make “good decisions on climate change,” consistent with the low-politician-trust signal in your data. Impact Canada

• Abacus/other Canadian pollsters (2023-24 analyses); polling analyses (Abacus, Angus Reid, Angus Reid Institute summaries); document falling public concern in some periods but consistently show that people place more faith in scientists/clean energy than in political leaders to deliver climate solutions. Abacus Data+1

Notes

• Most high-quality, recent polls are national (or pan-Canada) but do include provincial breakdowns. (Ontario numbers are usually available in the full reports or appendices.) The documents above reflect the same pattern: lower trust in politicians and greater hope in scientists and clean-energy solutions.

Read this article on Newmarket Today.

Political realities temper Newmarket's efforts on climate change

Council needs to hear about your climate concerns

How is our town's progress in fighting climate change?

As one who has been talking, teaching and writing about climate change for over 30 years, I am frustrated that governments everywhere are doing too little to reduce the amount of carbon pollution we cause. In Canada, the federal and provincial governments don’t seem to take climate change seriously, even though it is the biggest threat ever faced by humanity.

So what about the municipal level? How is Newmarket doing? Do we care enough? Are we doing enough? Are we moving fast enough?

At council direction, the staff in Newmarket’s climate, environment and sustainability recently produced an information report, which is available on the town website (search for Fossil Fuel Treaty). Personally, I find it important that the town has staff dedicated to “climate, environment and sustainability”; I have found them knowledgeable, dedicated and committed. 

Their report details many things that the town has already done on the climate front, in line with the council’s environmental sustainability priority, and makes recommendations on what Newmarket could do to take its climate actions forward.

The town has been working on three main climate-related projects: The Community Energy Plan (CEP), Green Development Standards (GDS) and Corporate Green Fleet Strategy. To learn about them, go to the Town’s Hey Newmarket website

(heynewmarket.ca) and search for Community Energy Plan Update. At the bottom, there are links to the three initiatives. Space does not allow me to go into these in full detail.

So, here is a brief description of the projects; my critiques follow.

The Community Energy Plan is intended to reduce environmental and climate impacts caused by our continued reliance on fossil fuels. It lays out targets for specific sectors, mainly buildings, transportation and decomposition of organic waste in landfill. Of the three, this one covers by far the largest part of our climate pollution.

The Green Development Standards are planned to make sure that the designing and building of our communities consider sustainability and climate change. The GDS should help the local economy and households be more resilient. This is a new initiative in Newmarket, though there are many GTHA municipalities that already have GDS in place. 

The Green Fleet Strategy aims to identify ways to cut the greenhouse gas emissions of the town’s vehicle fleet and equipment. 

Much of this reflects what Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora (CANA) has been calling for, so we applaud the initiatives. However, we want to see each of the initiatives show more ambition in the approach to climate change. Here are a few specifics:

The CEP says its low-carbon scenario is a “blue sky” pathway, while saying it has the “scale and intensity needed to transition to a low carbon community…” Business As Planned is highlighted as the way forward because it is “realistic”. This is in spite of the report’s data showing BAP as insufficient to do what is needed, hardly better than Business As Usual. But how is it “realistic” to do less than everything we can to save ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and all future generations from the sort of misery we see climate change causing already?

That said, the town’s CEP is the most developed and detailed of the three initiatives, and has a number of components that would give quick climate payoffs. One of its components, the Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit program has been in development for years, and should be pushed to implementation faster.

The Green Development Standards need to be more demanding. For example, they call for new buildings to be “solar ready,” with conduit in place, but not for them to actually have solar panels installed. Similarly, there is no call for buildings to have heat pumps installed. Installation would give some minimal increase on the housing costs, but lower the cost over time of running a house, and that benefit is increasing rapidly as technology develops.

Of course, planning for better building standards depends on the provincial government, and the current government has shown considerable animus to anything “green.”

The Green Fleet Strategy seems to be very concerned with keeping the current fossil fuel vehicles going as long as possible, with their fuel and maintenance expenses, rather than cutting their losses and transitioning as much as possible to electric as fast as possible. This would save a lot of money over time.

Of course, all of this has to be looked at carefully to see what will be the best place to start to get the maximum emissions reductions.

At the beginning I posed three questions to think about how Newmarket is doing in its climate efforts. So let me suggest short answers.

Do we care enough? If we’re talking about council and staff, then I would say “yes”. Almost every time I get to talk with a councillor or related staff member, I sense a good understanding of the nature and severity of the threat we face. But they are also hemmed in by what is politically possible. Council needs to hear about your climate concerns.

Are we doing enough? No, but I suppose almost no government anywhere is. Newmarket could easily show more ambition; clearly, town staff is ready to provide solid, researched advice and I’m sure that Newmarket residents are like most Canadians in wanting to see more action on the climate front.

Are we moving fast enough? No, the entire world is running out of time. However, this is where Newmarket could really step up and be a leader, as we have been in a number of other ways in the recent past. There is plenty of scope for accelerating Newmarket’s climate priorities.

The bottom line for me: Governments have to stop trying to have us believe that we can tackle climate change without changing, without making any sacrifice or accepting any challenge. We’re adults; we can handle it.

Read this article on Newmarket Today.

Can we talk?

As it becomes harder to avoid seeing how climate change is affecting our daily lives, there is more interest in exploring the causes and workable solutions, and more people wanting to talk about it.

Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora has begun venturing into additional territory by going out to interact with community groups to talk about climate change, and by hosting a market tent at both Newmarket and Aurora farmers markets in September.

As it becomes harder to avoid seeing how climate change is affecting our daily lives, there is more interest in exploring the causes and workable solutions, and more people wanting to talk about it.

In a survey provided at those events we asked people to choose their fears and hopes about climate change from among a number of options. There was an enthusiastic response from many who were eager to engage, and to share additional comments. Wildfire, drought and extreme heat topped the list of climate fears, while leading causes for hope were solar energy, scientists and local progress.

Perhaps not surprisingly, politicians received the fewest votes for a source of hope! Details of these responses will be provided on our website.

Energy, housing, health care, transportation, and food security are all top of mind for Canadians. Linking those concerns to a changing climate is one way of reaching an understanding of why it is important to phase out fossil fuels, and turn toward the enormous potential of clean, renewable, sustainable resources to transform our economy and our lives.

When we sit down with a group of people to discuss climate change, we find that we can learn from each other. By connecting the dots that lead from burning oil and gas to rising greenhouse gas pollution, all the way to increased costs of everything including health care, food, housing, and insurance premiums, we see that there is a need for open, frank discussion.

Through conversations fuelled by awareness and shared action, we signal to leaders, big business, and communities our desire for meaningful action on climate change. Together we can counteract misinformation, and increase our understanding and our resilience.

We can learn from other countries that are surging ahead to a clean energy future. The Environmental Defense Fund in 2024 put out a list of the top 10 countries leading the way in clean energy technologies. So why isn’t Canada on that list, with our abundant resources in solar and wind power?

Denmark leads with 67 per cent of its power derived from wind and solar. Wind power alone providing 54 per cent. China is showing the way with a steady transition from reliance on fossil fuels to rapidly increasing use of solar and wind energy.

Reducing, and ultimately ending our reliance on fossil fuels will lead to healthier, more secure lives, so let’s not keep kicking the climate crisis down the road, because we are almost out of pavement. The prospect of stranded assets is a major concern for the fossil fuel industry.

Investments in mining and oil drilling are done with a long-term view and are not expected to break even and become profitable for decades. This is one reason oil and gas companies lobby hard against any attempts by the government to put a cap on emissions. They would have us believe that future generations will develop some means of reducing the greenhouse gases we have added to our finite atmosphere.

The wind and the sun are free, advances in battery storage are moving ahead fast, so putting the burden on the shoulders of youth is not acceptable. We must act now.

Change begins with talking, but it is what we do after the conversation that drives real action.

Canada could become a superpower in clean energy, and a beacon of hope in a warming world, showing the way to a brighter future. Getting together to talk about it is one way to begin. Drop us a line if your community or school group would like to start a conversation — we are listening.

Read this article on Newmarket Today!