New Poll: Majority of Canadians Say Clean Energy Is More Important Than Ever After US Actions

… in Venezuela and Threats to Greenland.

February 26, 2026 — A new poll conducted after the United States’ actions in Venezuela and U.S. threats to seize Greenland has found that a majority of Canadians believe that made-in-Canada  renewable energy is important for strengthening Canada’s national security, independence and resilience.

The survey, conducted February 4-13, 2026 by polling firm Opinium, on behalf of Sierra Club Canada, highlights concern across Canada about the geopolitical risks linked to oil and gas reliance.

A majority of Canadians connect oil and gas dependence with instability, and believe renewable energy would strengthen Canadian sovereignty.

Key findings:

• 67% say reliance on oil and gas increases the risk of international conflict;
• 59% believe Canada would be safer if it produced more renewable energy, in light of recent events.
• 58% say transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy is more important than ever, in light of recent events;

Canadians are strongly opposed to foreign aggression to secure access to natural resources. 

• 70% say that it’s completely unacceptable for one country to use military force to take control of another nation’s resources
• 72% percent say it would be unacceptable for the United States to have arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to access oil reserves
• 80% say it would be unacceptable for the United States to seize Greenland for its natural resources.

“Canadians understand that energy security and national security are closely linked and tied to renewable growth,” said Conor Curtis, Director of Communications at Sierra Club Canada. “Global tensions highlight the risks associated with fossil fuel dependence. Countries around the world watched what happened in Europe when Russia attacked Ukraine and when the United States recently arrested the President of Venezuela and threatened to invade Greenland. They are watching right now what is happening in Cuba. These instances highlight oil and gas as liabilities, making renewables a more attractive option.”

“This research shows that many Canadians also consider renewable energy as key to building Canada’s stability and resilience and want our governments to prioritize renewable energy growth like wind and solar.”

Curtis also states that rather than slowing the global renewable energy transition U.S. actions — that demonstrate the security risks of relying on oil and gas — are likely to accelerate that transition and that this has ramifications for oil exporting countries like Canada. Curtis points to the need to support renewables and alternative industries in Canada as an economic alternative for communities currently reliant on oil and gas.

Taken together, the findings indicate that many Canadians view renewable energy as an important component of national security in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

The survey data cited above was collected by Opinium between February 4 and 13, 2026 online using computer assisted web-based interviewing (CAWI). Data is weighted to ensure that the results are nationally representative, with a total of 1,000 respondents resulting in a theoretical margin of error of +/-3.1%.

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For interviews, and more details of the poll findings, please contact: Media@sierraclub.ca