The departments responsible for adapting to the impacts of erosion and coastal flooding are poorly managing the risks of this crucial issue for Quebec in a context of global warming, notes the Commissioner for Sustainable Development. Municipalities, which are asking for help from the government, also lack the support to prepare for the worst.
Even though at least half of the coastal areas east of Quebec City are exposed to risks of erosion or submersion which raise health and safety issues for citizens, Commissioner Janique Lambert points out that there is no There is still no “integrated management of adaptation” to these risks within the ministries responsible for the file.
The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) and the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) should normally to reduce the risks of these phenomena, which could represent costs of at least $1.5 billion over the next few decades.
However, “the three ministries work mainly in a sectoral way and do not cover certain important risks”, can we read in the report published on Wednesday. For example, the MTMD’s expenditures are mainly incurred as a result of damage suffered, “and the planning of its investments in the coastal zone is not based on a complete picture of the risks posed by these hazards for the road network under its responsibility” .
The costs for the road network could however prove to be significant over the next few decades, since several sections of roads, in particular the 132 and the 138, could have to be moved altogether. The impacts of erosion in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine are also likely to require major investments. As part of an initial comprehensive assessment, the government had identified 273 vulnerable road segments.
The commissioner also notes that the MSP “has no long-term planning of the adaptation projects necessary to mitigate these risks to an acceptable level” and that the MELCCFP has not planned measures to preserve coastal ecosystems. that can play an important role in the resilience of infrastructure and communities. It is also a question, we note in the report, of allowing the survival of ecosystems that are important for the biodiversity of the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Poor municipalities
Moreover, “few municipalities” directly exposed to risks “benefit from the necessary supervision and support from the MSP and the MELCCFP for the implementation of adaptation projects and the effective management of risks”. For example, the tools to guide land use planning “for risk management” related to coastal erosion and submersion “have not been produced, are slow to be produced or have not been produced. updated for all municipalities and RCMs”.
The commissioner points out shortcomings on the part of the MELCCFP, which has developed tools to support decisions, but which “do not cover certain major risks and their consequences” and which have not been distributed to all municipalities.
However, the urgency of adapting to the consequences of global warming is beyond doubt, even if Quebec managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Green Economy 2030 Plan, if no adaptation measures are put in place, more than 5,000 buildings and almost 300 km of roads could be exposed and suffer damage from erosion by 2065. The bill would thus reach several hundred million dollars.
“We will need the help of other levels of government. When we touch on infrastructure, relocation needs or the protection of the shoreline, we are talking about major investments,” said last week the mayor of Carleton-sur-Mer, Mathieu Lapointe, in an interview with the Duty.
Gaps
The consequences of coastal erosion and flooding also generate expenses for the maintenance and adaptation of the road network under the responsibility of the MTMD. The latter plans to invest some $535 million by 2032.
In the most affected regions, namely Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine, it is estimated that approximately 65% of the coastline is susceptible to coastal erosion and that average rates of coastal retreat can reach two meters per year in some places.
Finally, “significant knowledge on coastal erosion and flooding and their effects is missing or poorly disseminated to support the management of these risks,” laments Commissioner Janique Lambert in her audit.
The available information “is scattered over several websites” and there is no assessment “nor a knowledge acquisition plan that integrates the priority needs in order to manage the risks for people, infrastructures, ecosystems and the environment. economy “. For 10 years, the government has nevertheless invested $25 million to fund research projects.