The fight against climate change: A win-win for Québec and the planet!

For the Québec government, the fight against climate change is just as much a priority as it is a fundamental issue.

The “2030 Plan for a Green Economy” is the electrification and climate change policy framework that will serve as the government’s roadmap over the next ten years. It will help Québec meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets and strengthen its resilience to climate change, while growing its economy. It replaces the 2013-2020 Climate Change Action Plan, which expires on March 31, 2021.

Investing in climate action

For Québec, setting a price on carbon is an essential measure for reducing GHG emissions. In 2013, Québec established its carbon market, which has been linked to California’s since January 2014. The resulting market is now the largest carbon market in North America. The carbon market’s primary objective is to encourage businesses and citizens to innovate and change their behaviour in order to reduce GHG emissions. The market also generates significant revenue, which is deposited into the Electrification and Climate Change Fund (French). This revenue is fully reinvested in measures that enable Québec to reduce its GHG emissions, better adapt to the impacts of climate change and accelerate its shift to a strong low-carbon economy. As part of the implementation of the 2030 PGE, financing sources other than those generated by the carbon market are also being mobilized.

Furthermore, Québec is not limiting its actions solely to its own territory. Climate change is having an impact on the entire world. The Québec government is aware of this shared destiny and is doing its part by taking a leadership role on the international stage. It has been putting its expertise and best practices forward in organizations, partnerships and strategic alliances for over a decade, and it intends to utilize its renewable energy to benefit the climate transition of its neighbours. It also contributes to the global effort to reduce GHGs and adapt to the impacts of climate change by engaging in international climate cooperation.