Climate change is already having multiple and potentially devastating impacts: changing temperatures, storms and floods, unexpected heavy rainfall and unusual droughts, shoreline erosion and impacts on the exploitation of natural resources. We are all witnesses of the consequences on our territories and our communities. As the urgency to act no longer needs to be demonstrated, the elected officials are resolutely committed to protecting the environment and this priority appears in the Regional electoral platform published by the Fédération québécoise des municipalités.
The leadership assumed in the protection of natural environments, the waters of our territories, the management of residual materials and sustainable economic development, involves all the players in our communities. Local and regional initiatives are bearing fruit and making a real difference. On the other hand, others could have a greater effect on our environment, but they are too often hampered by a lack of resources and financing due to an inequity in the distribution of investments compared to the major centres.
A convincing example is that of public transport. The regions are currently losing on all fronts. In addition to the Ministry of Transport’s incomprehensible and unacceptable desire to use the ridership of the first year of the pandemic to determine the funding of public transport in our communities, the options for public, adapted and intercity transport are diminishing in our territories. Our people have to travel long distances to access services that are too concentrated in large cities, difficult situations that affect the lives of our citizens as much as our environmental record. Investing in public transit in the regions does not require heavy infrastructure, but municipalities need stable and adequate funding to offer and develop an effective offer. With the constant increase in the cost of using cars, improving public transit in the regions is therefore an essential solution, both economically and environmentally.
Municipalities are ready to take the frontline role in the fight against climate change. The leadership of the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges in the protection of Mont Rigaud against possible mining activities, in particular because of the water sources found there, demonstrates this. Water is a natural wealth that must be taken care of. We thought it was inexhaustible, but we now know that is far from the case. Also, municipalities will need help to acquire more in-depth knowledge of the state and use of water in their territory. Knowledge and the means to ensure responsible use of this resource are essential if we want to avoid the problems that some people are currently experiencing. Support for RCMs that wish to understand the impact of climate change on their territory and develop an adaptation plan would also be appropriate.
Furthermore, it would be appropriate to entrust the regions with responsibility for a vast reforestation program in rural and urban areas in order to improve the environment of our communities. Many promises have been made in this area and only local action will make this project a reality.
A large number of municipalities in the regions are determined to go green by improving the energy efficiency of their buildings and municipal infrastructures, but come up against excessive costs when carrying out the projects. We will have to sit down to see how to solve this problem.
Finally, several of our members have a significant environmental contribution with their participation in major renewable energy projects on their territory. The involvement of communities in wind farms or small hydroelectric plants not only ensures greater social acceptability, but also a diversification of sources of income for our members.
The fight against climate change is a priority issue and our regions are essential to achieving the objectives in this area. Local and regional municipalities are ready and, in collaboration with the government, they will be able to deploy original initiatives adapted to each environment.