More GHGs
In 2018, Quebecers emitted 11.3 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG) per capita, according to the ISQ estimate. This is a higher carbon footprint than that revealed in the Quebec government’s annual report, which instead indicated 9.6 tonnes of GHGs. The difference is partly explained by taking into account emissions that are generated by production located outside the country. The ISQ estimate brings the total carbon footprint to 95 million tonnes of CO2 for all of Quebec society.
Consumption
The particularity of the ISQ method is that it measures GHG emissions according to consumption, and not according to production, informs Charles Séguin, professor in the department of economics at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). If companies do not seem responsible for GHG emissions, it is because the ISQ is interested in those emitted where the good is consumed. According to Annie Chaloux, professor of applied politics at the University of Sherbrooke, this way of calculating the carbon footprint makes it possible to more accurately account for the sources of emissions since “the problem of climate change is a problem of consumption”.
Imported products
Product manufacturing, which is largely located outside the country, is the one that generates the most GHGs for the ISQ. China represents a quarter of Quebec imports in terms of emissions, followed very closely by the United States. The latter are however a much more important commercial partner, underlines Charles Séguin, professor in the department of economics at UQAM. The country’s environmental standards then have a role to play on the final weight of GHGs in the balance.
Individual vision
PHOTO JENS MEYER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
The main emissions sector in Quebec is transportation.
The main emissions sector in Quebec is transportation. For Annie Chaloux, professor of applied politics at the University of Sherbrooke, it is therefore not surprising that the share of Quebec households is high in the estimate of the ISQ, i.e. 72% of the total footprint of society. Quebec. “It puts the magnifying glass on the Quebec household, but that does not mean that it puts the responsibility to act on the citizen”, underlines the professor. The citizen makes his travel and consumption decisions according to what is accessible, she specifies.
Public policies
Premier François Legault does not paint an adequate picture of Quebec’s carbon footprint when he asserts that Quebec’s GHG emissions are negligible, argues Annie Chaloux, a professor of applied politics at the University of Sherbrooke. The ISQ estimate would correct this by also presenting the share of emissions from export products. “The Legault government will have to roll up its sleeves,” she says. Andréanne Brazeau, climate policy analyst and spokesperson for Équiterre, also believes that this estimate should be read as providing “tools for making better public policies”.
Difficulty to act
For Charles Séguin, professor in the department of economics at UQAM, it will be difficult for the government to act according to the data from the ISQ. Internationally, decision-making is based more on the emissions generated in a given territory. It would therefore be easier for a country, or for a province like Quebec, to control the emissions produced on its territory than those resulting from imports. The professor of economics considers that the measure allows rather an “individual awareness” than an incentive to act for the government.