Article content continued

Warren Mabee, the director of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen’s University, said there is likely a “huge range” of opinions within the 54% group that said both people and nature are responsible for climate change.

“It’s really difficult to say, without doing more studies or polls, how many of those people sit on the edge that says, ‘Nature has a role but man is really driving things,’ and those that say, ‘Yeah, we have an impact, but it’s mostly nature,’ ” he said.

Beyond disagreement within the Canadian population generally, the poll also revealed regional divisions. The survey found those living on the Prairies are far less likely to think climate change is caused by humans [21% in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and 24% in Manitoba] than those in Quebec, at 44%, Atlantic Canada, at 34%, or British Columbia, at 32%.

“Scientists themselves aren’t sure, exactly, what’s going on,” Mr. Mabee said. “We know there are certain things we’ve done, but we’re not sure how much of what we’ve done is driving what we’re seeing and how much of it is other things.”

Of those surveyed, 12% said they felt they were very well informed about the causes of climate change, while 35% said they were not very well or not at all informed about the causes. And when asked whether carbon capture and storage — a way to reduce emissions from such sources as oil sands and power plants — would be fairly or very effective, 35% said “yes;” roughly the same percentage said the technology would be not at all or not very effective.

The survey, conducted between May 29 and June 11, is based on Canadians who have Internet access, covering roughly 80% of the population. Results within the online population are accurate within +/-3 points, 95% of the time.

• Email: kcarlson@nationalpost.com | Twitter: KBlazeCarlson