The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a stark reminder that we are in the midst of a climate crisis. We have taken so long to act decisively that we must now, the experts tell us, take immediate action to reduce our emissions.
According to the IPCC, two mechanisms are at the heart of our ability to deal with it: our ability to innovate — in our practices as citizens, consumers, business managers and public decision-makers — and our ability to deploy technological solutions in an accelerated manner that already exist. Achieving our climate goals depends on it. Without the adoption of low or zero emission clean technologies and without behavioral changes, we will not get there.
Many experts agree that:
1. clean technologies are essential to achieving climate and environmental objectives;
2. clean technologies can help businesses and organizations become more competitive while reducing their environmental impact;
3. the clean technology sector is a market with strong economic potential.
In Quebec as elsewhere, clean technologies offer solutions for reducing GHG emissions, but also for water treatment, residual materials, energy efficiency, agriculture, bioenergy, solutions based on nature and many other areas. These solutions reduce and optimize the need for energy, materials and raw materials, making companies more efficient and competitive.
So many reasons to adopt them. It should also be mentioned that, in a context of labor shortage, surveys show that a large proportion of available workers are attracted to companies with a strong environmental vision.
Pick up the pace
Despite the efforts we have made over the past two decades, our practices are not changing fast enough and we are not adopting the clean technologies that are ready to be deployed quickly and widely enough. It’s true all over the world, and it’s true here too. We are still too hesitant about innovation, which we should nevertheless welcome with open arms, especially since we would all come out winners, including economically.
In Quebec, we have a very dynamic green economy ecosystem: more than 85,000 jobs and annual sales of nearly $8 billion. It is one of the best-performing sectors in Quebec, with job growth — many of which are very well paid — nearly five times faster than in the rest of the economy. We might as well take action quickly for the good of our economy and the planet.
It is exactly in this line of reflection and action that many organizations are approaching Green Economy Week, which runs until May 20. Nearly thirty activities are grouped together during this week which allows you to take the pulse of the growth of the green economy and its benefits in all regions of Quebec.
The time is no longer for procrastination. We must act decisively, and act now. In Quebec, we have the solutions, and the talents to implement them.