COP26 | What if Quebec got down to work instead of breaking out?

The COP26 concludes this Friday in Glasgow. We heard François Legault claim that Quebec is “the number one for the least greenhouse gas in North America”.

The Legault government also produced a video message in which it prides itself on being a “leader” in the fight against climate change. These partisan advertisements which are multiplying on the part of the CAQ (remember all the hype surrounding the new Culture and Quebec Citizenship course) are highly problematic.

In the case of climate, the message conveyed is misleading. Another perception, just as false, is circulating. That according to which Quebec’s emissions are negligible compared to those of China, India and the United States, the province is not really under pressure to reduce them.

Instead, here is why we should tackle our carbon footprint with a sense of urgency that is currently lacking.

1. Quebecers are big polluters

Green thanks to their hydroelectricity, Quebeckers? No. In fact, if each Terran emitted as much as a Quebecker, the planet would be in an even more catastrophic situation than it currently is.

Each Quebecer emits 2.5 times more GHGs than a Mexican (who, according to the latest news, lives in North America). Per person, we emit more than the Chinese and the Indians. We issue more than all Europeans except Czechs and Luxembourgers. We emit twice as much as the average for the world’s citizens.

It is true that we emit less than the Americans and the inhabitants of other provinces. But François Legault wisely chooses his comparisons and measures himself against the worst students on the planet. Do we really want to be content with being the least bad of dunces?

2. Our fair share is even greater

The Paris agreement stipulates that rich countries have greater efforts to make than poor countries to limit global warming to 1.5 ° C (we speak of “common, but differentiated responsibilities”). First, because they have been polluting for longer. As GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere, developed nations have further contributed to climate change.

Then, because the rich countries have more resources to fight against the climate emergency. The Climate Equity Reference Project thus calculates that Quebec’s fair share would be a reduction of 178% by 2030 below 1990 levels. This is… very far from our target of 37.5%. Obviously, as it is impossible to reduce by more than 100%, that implies efforts elsewhere. Experts suggest that Quebec reduce its emissions by 60% on its territory and fulfill the rest of its “fair share” by funding reduction efforts in developing countries (which it is doing in part).

3. To rally others, we must show the way

In absolute numbers, Quebec’s emissions are obviously low compared to those of China, India or Russia. But good luck convincing the giants to move if you don’t do your fair share. By missing its reduction targets, Quebec has no balance of power to encourage others to achieve them.

4. Missing targets fuels cynicism

Repeating that Quebec has lower emissions than its neighbors does not change the fact that we have made a commitment to reduce them. Our next target is in eight years, as well say tomorrow morning. However, the current plan only brings us halfway to that goal.

The announcement made in Glasgow to invest 5 billion to electrify half of Quebec’s buses by 2030 is certainly excellent, but largely insufficient. And every missed target fuels cynicism and undermines our credibility.

What if we got down to work instead of breaking out?

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