Prime Minister Legault is flying away this weekend for the Glasgow climate conference. He will have much to be proud of since he will represent one of the most mobilized companies in the world on the issue. It will bring our growing concerns to the runaway climate and our hopes of getting out of it. As Prime Minister of a nation that has joined the Paris Agreement, he also has the responsibility – like all leaders of the planet – to arrive in Glasgow with the highest level of ambition of which we are capable to contribute to the global efforts.
The Prime Minister has made pride and social cohesion pillars of his political action. In this regard, climate change is a powerful contributor, having become one of the identity markers of the Quebec nation. Despite our inconsistencies, we are the Americans most concerned about the climate crisis and those who demand the most action from our leaders. We are approaching, at home, a real social consensus.
Climate change has never been a polarizing or partisan issue here. On the contrary, they bring us all together, no matter where we are in the territory. Historically, the National Assembly has spoken with one voice to support international climate agreements and even proclaim a state of climate emergency.
This is where the continent’s first carbon tax appeared to finance our first real climate plan. One of the best-designed carbon markets in the world has emerged in Quebec and California. It is also here that the electrification of transport is among the most advanced.
Our vision of economic development has evolved in favor of a green and carbon-free economy, in a context of just transition for workers and communities. These policies are now widely accepted, regardless of the color of our governments.
After vigorous debates, we also ended up taking largely consensual decisions, such as the protection of Anticosti, the abandonment of GNL Québec and now the ban on the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on our territory. And soon, perhaps, we will abandon this third link project, this ball that the Prime Minister is unnecessarily dragging and which still undermines our environmental credibility.
This mobilization of Quebecers, we do not recognize it enough, we owe it to the countless groups and citizen associations whose tireless work has opened our eyes. These pissers, who have been laughed at for a long time, have rallied the rest of society and continue to shake us up so that we can rise to the occasion even more. Let us hope that the Prime Minister will listen to them and treat them with respect, especially since the innovative ideas that they present today are part of the solutions we need.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, PRESS ARCHIVES
The BIXI, a popular means of transport to demonstrate for the climate
Pride, a feeling to be nurtured
If there is one message to be taken from the monster climate demonstrations – the most important in the world – organized across Quebec before the pandemic and under the leadership of rising generations, it is that Quebecers do not wish neither to sit on their laurels nor to revel in the farting of suspenders.
We can see that climate change is running faster than our capacity to counter it. We know that the Glasgow conference will not solve the problem and that we will have to redouble our efforts on return.
We need to do more, better, and faster. Especially since we still do not achieve the goals we have set for ourselves, which should give us a good dose of humility.
All the premiers of Quebec who participated in one of these major climate conferences came back transformed. First, because they have been exposed to the enormity and gravity of the issue. Secondly, because they met there that profoundly changed their outlook. And finally, because they will have understood that even as a leader in certain fields, Quebec has a lot to learn in a host of fields.
The Prime Minister will see in Glasgow that the world is changing very quickly and that new ideas are emerging. That daring solutions emerge, in the promotion of biodiversity, in innovative financing, in technologies, in behavioral changes and in public policies. And even in terms of questioning our economic model which relies on infinite growth and fueled by overconsumption. It’s time to refuel and come back home galvanized, inspired by the best elsewhere.
In Glasgow, Prime Minister Legault will be proud of a society well mobilized in the fight against climate change.
But pride is a lasting feeling.
His challenge, our challenge as Quebecers, is to come out of the Glasgow conference with our heads held high, with the feeling that we have gone as far as we can.
And that we come back a little more humble, but convinced and determined to do even more.
What do you think? Express your opinion