How is climate change affecting Quebec?
The year 2024 was the warmest ever recorded in Quebec and the 27th consecutive year above average. It was 3.2¡ãC warmer than normal. Climate change is already having significant impacts in Quebec, both on the population and the economy. We are observing, in particular, an increase in phenomena such as coastal flooding and erosion, biodiversity loss, heatwaves, wildfires, and flooding. Two recent examples illustrate these impacts well.
First, there has been a notable increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy and extreme precipitation events. For example, in August 2024, the tail end of Hurricane Debby caused major flooding, resulting in nearly $2.5 billion in insured damages. This was the costliest weather event ever recorded in Quebec.
Wildfires are also on the rise, notably due to increasingly favorable climatic conditions for their ignition and spread. While the annual average for wildfires is about 480, more than 700 fires were recorded in the spring and summer of 2023, causing significant damage in several regions of Quebec.
What action are you taking to address climate change?
Quebec has formally committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate and has adopted the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy to combat climate change and electrify its economy. The plan includes more than 150 concrete measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening resilience in a just transition perspective, and contributing to the international effort on climate cooperation, and it is updated annually. It is both an ambitious and structuring plan that supports the transformation of our society and our economy. Efforts are divided between the electrification of transport, the reduction of industrial emissions, energy efficiency in buildings and adaptation to climate change. Among the flagship measures is the zero-emission vehicle standard, accompanied by a strategy to deploy public charging stations. The results are already being felt, with nearly 50 per cent of all zero-emission vehicles in Canada being in Quebec. Quebec also boasts the largest network of charging stations in Canada.
What are the benefits? Why is it important?
Our commitment to climate action is already delivering numerous short- and long-term benefits. Quebec already benefits from 99.8 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources, making our per-capita emissions the lowest in North America. Our initiatives have fostered the emergence of new economic sectors in Quebec, such as electromobility and green technologies. These initiatives contribute to diversifying our economy and improving our trade balance. In addition, our efforts are strengthening the resilience of Quebec municipalities to climate hazards, while reducing air pollution and its impact on public health. In the longer term, this transition is also making our economy more resilient to energy price shocks - an important advantage in a volatile global context. Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is a global objective of importance for our government. This objective aims to ensure a prosperous future for current and future generations, to position Quebec¡¯s economy among the greenest and most efficient in the world, and to make a tangible contribution to international efforts to mitigate global warming and its impacts on societies and ecosystems.
