The retrospective of the year 2023 for Quebec presents itself as an alarming story of the devastating impact of climate change. In addition to being crowned the hottest year in history, 2023 was an unforgiving window into the reality we have long denied: climate change is an urgent crisis that requires immediate action. For more than thirty years, we have been in denial, ignoring warning signs and delaying essential actions to mitigate the effects of global warming. But 2023 has shown us, in dramatic fashion, the consequences of this inaction.
The summer of 2023 marked a tragic turning point in the history of Quebec and beyond, with forest fires of an unprecedented scale. These fires, which consumed 4.5 million hectares of Quebec forest, in the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, on the North Shore, in the Lac-Saint-Jean region and in Nord-du-Québec , have had repercussions well beyond provincial borders, also affecting maritime regions, northern and western Canada. The financial cost of this disaster is $200 million for the province, but the human and ecological cost is much deeper and more complex.
These fires not only caused enormous material losses and an exodus of populations, they also deteriorated air quality over a vast area, affecting regions as far away as New York for several days, without sparing Montreal. The smoke, carried by the winds, made the crisis tangible beyond the borders of Quebec, powerfully demonstrating the interconnection of ecosystems and communities in the face of climate disasters.
Cree communities, notably in Wemindji, Mistissini and Waswanipi, were among the hardest hit, with mass evacuations that revealed their vulnerability to intensifying natural disasters. Entire towns like Chibougamau, Clova and Normétal also had to face evacuations, which increased the scale and severity of the situation.
Mainly caused by torrential rains of exceptional intensity, floods and landslides have been another facet of this climate crisis. Municipalities like Baie-Saint-Paul and Sainte-Émélie-de-l’Énergie were particularly affected. The images of damaged Route 138 and vehicles swept away will remain a strong symbol of this tragic year. These events caused not only immense economic losses, but also human losses, particularly in Rivière-Éternité.
Inaction on climate change has a price, a cost that increases every year.
According to the Climate Institute of Canada, economic losses linked to climate impacts could reach $25 billion by 2025 for Canada, which is equivalent to 50% of projected GDP growth for that year. These worrying figures demonstrate that the lack of adequate measures today not only carries immediate costs, but also long-term consequences for economic growth and national prosperity.
These costs are not only macroeconomic; they have direct repercussions on citizens. These losses are not abstract figures; they result in lost jobs, eroded competitiveness and increased public spending. Even more alarming, in his report entitled Limiting the damage: reducing the costs of climate impacts for Canadathe Institute emphasizes that the repercussions on households are catastrophic, with an expected drop in income of 18% by the end of the century.
Productivity losses, infrastructure destruction and public health effects will result in reduced household incomes and increased public spending. When it comes to employment, the forecast is just as bleak, with potential losses numbering in the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, by the end of the century.
The Climate Institute of Canada emphasizes that anticipatory adaptation policies and actions can significantly reduce the damage caused by climate change. These measures could cut projected costs in half, representing billions in savings. This would also ultimately reduce the financial burden on households. The report indicates that every dollar invested in adaptation would bring between $13 and $15 in benefits, both direct and indirect. By combining adaptation with an overall emissions reduction, the estimated costs could be reduced by four times, leading the country towards a more stable and economically viable future.
The need for proactive measures is therefore imperative. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are not only environmental imperatives, but also essential economic investments to preserve the long-term stability and prosperity of our society. Continued inaction is not only ecological negligence, but also an economic mistake with disastrous consequences.
Looking to the future, 2024 must be the year we fully embrace resilience and adaptation. We must rethink our way of occupying and managing the territory, integrating the reality of climate change into all our decisions. This will involve difficult choices, sometimes unpopular, but essential for the continuity of our society.
Combining emissions reduction and proactive adaptation is our best strategy to minimize risks. This means investing in resilient infrastructure, rethinking our agricultural, urban and industrial practices, our way of consuming and moving and, above all, it involves a change in our collective mentality.