Are Canadians Climate Doomers?

Executive Summary

Climate doom — the belief that climate change is an unstoppable catastrophe and that it is too late to take effective action — has gained visibility in recent years, amplified by a decade of grim headlines and, this past summer, by Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki's July 2025 iPolitics interview declaring the fight against climate change lost. Written in collaboration with Re.Climate, this research snapshot asks whether climate doomerism is actually prevalent in Canada and whether Suzuki's headline resonated, drawing on an original nationally representative survey of 1,431 Canadians fielded between August 28 and September 3, 2025 (margin of error ±2.6%).

The central finding is a large perception gap. Only 11–12% of Canadians identify as climate doomers — believing climate action no longer matters — yet Canadians estimate the doomer share of the population at 42%, roughly a 30-point overestimate that leads them to underestimate how many of their compatriots still believe climate action matters. Doomerism is concentrated among heavier social media users: up to 37% of Bluesky users self-identify as doomers.

Suzuki's fatalism carried weight. About 18% of Canadians recalled his "it's too late" headline — unsurprising given that 79% know his name and 67% report familiarity with him, and he is broadly trusted on environmental matters. Among those who encountered it, 54% discussed it with their community, most often reacting with frustration, helplessness, and anxiety. The snapshot closes by calling for research into whether climate doom meaningfully affects climate action, policy agendas, and collective mobilization.