2024-Dec-18
IJC's 2024 Poll Reveals Overwhelming Support for Great Lakes Protection
Earlier this spring GBA asked you to help the International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes Water Quality Board by participating in their fourth Great Lakes Regional Poll. The results are now in, and of the more than 4,500 Canadians and Americans surveyed, the majority of respondents find Great Lakes protection and investments essential to the region’s economy and quality of life.Key findings:
- Respondents expressed nearly unanimous support (96%) for the importance of government investment in Great Lakes protections
More than 9 in 10 respondents (94%) believe it is important to protect the Great Lakes, up from 85% in 2015’s survey- Four in 5 (80%) respondents agree the region’s economy will suffer if the Great Lakes are not healthy
- Invasive species and pollution seen as the top challenges that pose negative impacts to the health of each lake
- First Nations, Métis and Tribal Nation members were significantly more concerned about their drinking water sources and a majority (59%) are concerned about Great Lakes water quality affecting species of cultural importance
- Climate change is widely viewed as a source of increasing pressure on the Great Lakes (90%), along with concerns about climate impacts on Great Lakes water quality (83%), water quantity (77%) and community well-being (81%)
Opinions on the overall status and trend of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health are mixed, with views varying lake-by-lake, but Lake Huron respondents said Huron’s water quality is good (75%) and not changing (50%), and most say it is safe for swimming, drinking and fishing.
This is the IJC’s fourth survey, with prior polls conducted in 2015, 2018 and 2021, to capture public opinion about the Great Lakes, water quality issues and other topics related to restoring and protecting this unique freshwater system.
You can read more interesting results from the poll here.
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