At a time when affordability and economic uncertainty dominate headlines, a clear message is emerging from Canadians: addressing climate change is not a “nice to have” but essential to long-term economic stability and prosperity. 

New polling commissioned by Environmental Defence and conducted by Abacus Data in December 2025 shows that a strong majority of Canadians continue to support government action to phase out fossil fuels, even as concerns about the cost of living persist. Nearly six in ten Canadians support phasing out the use and production of fossil fuels.

This matters. It tells us that Canadians understand what some politicians and industry lobbyists still deny: the climate crisis and economic security are deeply intertwined. 

The poll results also reveal a clear preference for a clean energy future. When asked to choose Canada’s energy development priorities, nearly nine in ten Canadians favour renewable energy either on its own or alongside a limited role for fossil fuels. Only 5 per cent of Canadians say that Canada should prioritize fossil fuel production outright. 

In other words, Canadians are calling for their government to move towards renewables. They want governments to plan for a just, energy transition that invests in clean energy, protects workers and communities, and avoids locking Canada into declining industries. 

This perspective is aligned with global reality. Around the world, the energy transition is accelerating. Clean energy investment now outpaces fossil fuel investment by a wide margin, with renewables, energy efficiency and electrification driving the majority of new energy spending. Furthermore, International Energy Agency data shows that oil demand is expected to peak this decade, with gas demand expected to peak in 2035. If Canada fails to acknowledge this reality and doubles down on fossil fuel expansion, it risks billions of dollars in stranded assets. 

Canadians’ support for a fossil fuel phaseout is also shaped by a lack of trust in the industry itself. The poll shows that only 38% of Canadians say that they trust oil and gas companies. This skepticism is well-earned. Oil and gas companies have posted record profits while pushing for public subsidies, weakening climate policies, and downplaying environmental and health impacts. Meanwhile, households in Canada are left dealing with climate-driven disasters, rising insurance and grocery costs, and volatile energy prices. 

Despite efforts to frame climate action as an economic burden by the industry and their allies, Canadians see through the false choice. Investing in clean electricity, a resilient national electricity grid, and other climate solutions is widely understood as a way to lower long-term costs, create stable jobs and reduce exposure to global price swings.

The poll’s findings reflect a growing public consensus: phasing out fossil fuels is not just about cutting emissions, it’s about building a safer, more affordable future. Canadians want leadership that reflects this reality, not policies that delay the inevitable while increasing risk. 

As governments in Canada make decisions that will shape this country for decades to come, the message from Canadians is clear. The path to prosperity runs through climate action, and it’s time energy policies caught up.