The verdict is in: 77 per cent of Canadian experts rate the country's climate change policies poor to very poor, this according to one of the largest surveys of thought leaders ever completed in the area of sustainability.

The 2010 Global Thought Leader survey conducted by McAllister Opinion Research on behalf of the Pembina Institute, asked 5,109 leaders in areas of government, business, and academia a wide range of questions about the present and future of sustainability in Canada.

"This survey provides insight into the challenges and opportunities facing Canada on energy and the environment, and highlights the fact that Canada is slipping behind in its ability to compete in the emerging clean energy economy," says Marlo Raynolds, executive director of the Pembina Institute.

While improving environmental stewardship was ranked Canada's most urgent issue, 46 per cent of thought leaders believe oil sands development should be accelerated or continued at the same rate, with 50 per cent calling for them to be suspended, scaled back or halted permanently.

The top issue across all regions is climate change at 43 per cent. Renewable energy ranked second at 36 per cent and water issues ranked third at 25 per cent.

Government experts comprised 59 per cent of the respondents. The survey also focused on academic opinion, with 28 per cent of participants holding the position of professor, scientist and researcher.

Josh Massey is completing his practicum at The Tyee.