As we know, the acceleration of global warming, with the great heat waves that we are experiencing, especially in large cities, should increase the periods of smog, floods, droughts, torrential rains, and other disasters. natural. Let us add the devastating effects of these, such as the great forest fires in Europe, but also in the United States, and soon at home. Fires that have already destroyed 110,000 hectares.
And the overall result is that this trend is ensuring that the maximum increase of +1.5°C in average temperature predicted by the Paris Conference in 2015 is already being exceeded, with +3°C by 2030. Temperature exceeding the maximum acceptable for human life. As the World Meteorological Organization, associated with the United Nations, has just recalled. And its effects would be, among other things, the lack of water, even our drinking water. As demonstrated by the analyzes of the Ouranos consortium. While we believe that water will always be available, even when the rest of the world runs out of it.
All affecting what we eat and increasingly disrupting births. Not to mention the disappearance of bees and a large number of birds. Plus the arrival of new perverse effects, such as the explosion of Lyme disease, the drop in worker productivity, the reduction in the resistance of infrastructures with the erosion of the banks and coasts supporting the roads, etc. More rising prices everywhere. And that does not take into account the effects on the future displacements of hundreds of thousands of humans fleeing their submerged or desert countries and whom we will be obliged to welcome.
More drastic measures
Whereas the solutions recommended for Quebec are insufficient. Since global CO emissions2 fell just 2.7% over the past decade. We must therefore move on to more drastic measures, such as the multiplication of public transport, including for the suburbs, and their free use, for example, for students. Especially since the government currently has surpluses to spend. Surplus that, unfortunately, he wants to give back to the voters to continue his little electoral politics rather than thinking about the Earth.
It is also necessary to oblige companies with more than 40 employees to provide transport passes or shuttles, while seriously limiting their parking and increasing the number of trees on them. And, of course, we also need even higher taxes for large cars and vans, as the OECD advocates and as António Guterres of the UN reminded us. Since their sales continue to grow. And even more restrictions for the eight companies, including the Horne foundry in Rouyn-Noranda, which the government still gives permission to poison citizens. Knowing that their profits continue to multiply outrageously. Like the Swiss firm Glencore, owner of this foundry which generated, in 2020, revenues of 185 billion dollars.
And, of course, we must introduce a strong tax on car advertising. As was the case in the 1980s with that on tobacco and the law requiring demonstration of its harms. Especially with the refusal of François Legault to act on this side. And this, despite the possibility of total or partial reimbursement of taxes during tax declarations for anyone who must use their car to earn a living. It is also necessary to block any new highway (and tunnel!) automatically favoring urban sprawl. Similarly, we must think of a new special tax in favor of a better climate for higher incomes. We must also oblige all large companies to specify the intermediate steps aimed at reducing their pollution and to specify the means, without waiting for the government to assume most of the costs.
Determination
Of course, this takes willpower. As was the case with René Lévesque for the nationalization of electricity. Nationalization which Jean Lesage did not want, and which resulted, with the hard head of his minister, in the elections of 1962 won hands down. Policy which, subsequently, favored the commitment of our engineers and the management of businesses by Francophones. With, in the process, the creation of the Caisse de depot et placement and the Pension Plan, which freed Quebec from the financial control of the firm Ames & Sons of Boston and its monopoly of loans. Plus the establishment of car insurance. Not to mention Bill 101, which above all seriously curbs bilingualism in Montreal. […]
Especially since the population demands strong actions. As shown by a poll last July in which 78% of respondents ask politicians to make a firm commitment to saving the planet, even at the expense of other priorities and even if it means having to pay more taxes.
We need a real policy which demands that this pollution be firmly limited with clear and precise objectives. Politics seen as the first objective by young people, as other polls regularly remind us. And since we can no longer wait for the efforts of our Prime Minister, we need a serious policy coming from a new René Lévesque, whose 100th birthday we have just celebrated. Either someone who will rise to his example, and who will finally force things. Since the Earth is crying out more and more and demanding this real climate policy to save the planet.
* Other signatories: Bruno Fabi, UQTR; Camille Carrier, UQTR; Pierre Cossette, UQAM; and Marc-Urbain Proulx, UQAC, all professors.