During a recent press scrum, comments by the provincial Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Benoit Charette, raised deep concerns among civil society about the direction Quebec should take to address the climate emergency. While the science is clear on the need to radically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the minister said that aiming for ambitious targets would take us back to the “Stone Age.” These comments are not only unfounded, they mask the real problem: the lack of leadership on the part of the Quebec government.
The facts are clear: Quebec is already grappling with climate disasters. Devastating fires, recurring floods, extreme heat waves are now our new reality. Let’s think about the storm Debby, which still leaves many Quebec families who are victims of the disaster to fend for themselves, with their feet in the water. Beyond the numbers, human lives are at stake.
These are the fundamental lives that must guide our collective level of ambition in terms of climate. However, the Quebec government is content with a target of reducing its emissions by 37.5% by 2030, a goal that is far from being up to the task of responding to the climate crisis and which should have been updated several years ago according to Quebec’s commitments to the Paris Agreement.
Not only is this target archaic, but the government still does not have an adequate plan to hope to achieve it. We are collectively paying a high price for it—and this will continue to be the case—on several levels, including the adaptation of our infrastructure, the damage to Quebec homes and the costs to our health care system.
Aim higher
Meanwhile, several other governments have much more ambitious targets. Examples? Germany and the UK are committing to cut their emissions by 65% and 68% by 2030, while Finland is aiming for a 60% reduction by 2030. These commitments show us that it is possible to aim higher and take meaningful action to protect our future and free ourselves from fossil fuels. What’s more, countries are now preparing their 2035 targets, which are due, according to the Paris Agreement, in early 2025.
It’s time to move beyond pointless bickering and focus on concrete, tangible measures. Reducing our GHG emissions will not take us back to the Stone Age—on the contrary, it will propel us toward a more resilient and equitable future, and strategically position us in tomorrow’s net-zero economy.
A more ambitious target for reducing our GHG emissions also means focusing on energy sobriety, increasing carbon pricing, phasing out fossil fuels more quickly and densifying cities. The Quebec government’s climate change advisory committee reminds us that the solutions exist and their effectiveness is widely documented. What is missing is a solid technical and economic plan, as well as the leadership needed to implement it. This is precisely where the Quebec government must show the way.
To achieve this, it will be absolutely necessary to manage energy and climate issues in an integrated manner. In other words, Bill 69 on energy governance in Quebec must necessarily be reviewed so that this reform is aligned with climate imperatives.
September 27 will mark the fifth anniversary of major climate marches, including the one in Montreal, where 500,000 people demanded immediate, more robust climate action alongside Greta Thunberg. This anniversary reminds us that time is running out, for ourselves and for future generations. An ambitious target accompanied by a robust plan is not only realistic, but it is also morally necessary: it is the only possible path to prevent future climate disasters, protect our environment, our loved ones, and our infrastructure, and support Quebec’s future economy. It is also our duty because we have the luxury of having the financial and technical resources to lead this transition, unlike many other states in the world.
Let’s take to the streets on September 27 to demand real climate leadership from Quebec and to remind the government that inadequate plans, half-measures, and waiting are not options. Solutions exist, and the government must acknowledge them and use them—for the good of our entire community.