A new Statistics Canada survey has revealed an unexpected finding: older Canadians are showing greater concern about climate change than their younger counterparts. According to the Canadian Social Survey, 59 percent of Canadians aged 65 and older reported being highly worried about environmental changes, compared to just 51 percent of those between 15 and 24 years old.
The survey, which included climate-related questions for the first time, found that more than half of all Canadians (53 percent) expressed being “very” or “extremely” concerned about climate change in 2025. Additionally, nearly one-third of the population experiences stress related to environmental issues at least once a month.
The findings also highlight significant demographic differences in climate concern. Women demonstrated higher levels of worry at 59 percent compared to 48 percent among men. Education also plays a role, with university graduates (60 percent) expressing more concern than those without a high school diploma (46 percent). Those who worry about climate change are also more likely to take concrete action, with 65 percent reducing food waste and 57 percent cutting energy consumption.
This data comes at a critical time, as 2025 has been confirmed as one of the hottest years on record. Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that human-made climate change has made heat waves between two and ten times more likely this year. Last week, millions of Canadians across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories faced yellow and orange heat alerts, underscoring the immediate reality of climate impacts across the country.
