Quebec management can compromise in the fight against climate change

Calling for an assessment of the various measures put in place by the government to achieve its climate objectives, the Commissioner of Sustainable Development, Janick Lambert, found that Quebec was not performing. Effective and efficient Electrification and Climate Change Fund.

Former Green Fund – renamed in October 2020 during the regime reform of the fight against climate change – The second in importance In Quebec government special funds. Only a draw from this fund will financially support its plan for the Quebec Green Economy 2030, which should contribute to the achievement of GHG reduction targets.

Keep in mind that the government expects to reduce GHG emissions by 37.5% by 2030 compared to the 1990 level.

But now the MELCC Allocated 80% of the cost estimate for the fund for $ 5.4 billion out of $ 6.7 billion for the period 2021-2026 – for the revised measures of the 2013-2020 Action Plan that did not do this Previously assessed performanceCommissioner Lambert presented his report to the National Assembly on Wednesday morning.

” [Le ministère] The Fund has been unable to monitor the performance of the funded activities and the achievement of the objectives of the plan for the Green Economy 2030. ⁇

Although it has undertaken to evaluate the impact of these measures, the Ministry has not yet done so and is continuing Tie substantial sums, We can read there. By delaying this evaluation, the department will not be able to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that these measures actually work.

At a press briefing, the commissioner gave an example of an eco-performance program that finances projects to limit businesses’ use of energy. The government revived the program By investing extra money And pursuing its 2020 target, when it was only achieved at 53%.

Has not already reached the objectives in the action plan. And there, we renew the same measures in the hope of achieving a reduction [des émissions de GES] ExtraShe explains.

Ms. Lambert, however, could not say whether all the money on the way was wasted.

The commissioner did not want to comment on whether it was too late for the government to reach its targets. I think we really need to [le gouvernement] Ensures every upcoming implementation plans [comporte] The right steps to get thereShe says.

Benoit Charrett, who learned about the commissioner’s resolutions on the fight against environmental and climate change, confirmed that there were adjustments in the latest plan introduced by the government. Report by Ms Lambert Photo dated April 1, 2021, so it’s not up to dateHe defended himself.

Risk of missing goals

Apart from this MELCCThe Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MERN) has also been criticized for the inefficiency of the 2030 Energy Policy. The Commissioner noted this range. Errors that compromise Quebec’s power transition.

The commissioner noted that MERN was not in a position to oversee the actions implemented as part of its 2030 Energy Policy. Puts in danger Practice its goals.

According to the commissioner, the MERN The government does not assess progress on each of the five targets it has set to achieve by 2030.

There is also no ministerial post […] Draw a complete picture of the progress of the implementation of the master plan, the results of which are lagging behindMrs. Lambert underlined.

However, billions of dollars of public funds will be injected into Quebec’s energy transformation process. Failing to maintain a strict follow-up, the ministry did not have all the information it needed. Decisions informedSaid the Commissioner for Sustainable Development.

GHG emissions from per capita fuel consumption have been rising since the energy conversion policy came into effect in 2016, the report said.

Less monitoring on the impact of road salts

The problem of road salts used to maintain snow-covered roads in winter and to reduce dust in summer is another example of the implementation of strategies that the government is struggling to follow.

Although Quebec approved its strategy for environmental management of road salts in 2010, the Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ), which is responsible for its implementation, to date has not been able to confirm that he will do everything possible to mitigate its effects. These salts on the environment.

Once spread on the roads, road salts get into the waterways and affect their quality. Fauna and Flora are affected.

In Quebec, the government outsources about 80% of winter management on the road network to subcontractors. These are under liability MTQ. However, the cabinet Not aware of spreading methods About its subcontractors, and therefore no idea about the consequences of these technologies on the environment, the commissioner summed up.

Ms. Lambert also noted the contracts signed by these subcontractors Some requirements About the best diffusion methods. The Department does not encourage them to learn about the negative effects of road salts.

And although technologies have been developed during pilot projects to mitigate the consequences of de-icing salt outbreaks on the environment, the Ministry has been slow to use them.

According to Janic Lambert, commissioner of Quebec du Ministres des Transport, its measures to limit damage from the spread of road salts have not been confirmed.

Photo: iStock

The Commissioner is concerned about the repeated postponement of the review on the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy, due to which the Government has been delaying the implementation of its policies since 2006.

Since the Sustainable Development Act was passed, the Commissioner pointed out, the five-year deadline set for the strategy review has never been honored.

Originally scheduled for December 2020, the review was adjourned to March 31, 2022, before the deadline set by law was set for October 27, 2022. However, Ms. Lambert was skeptical of the government’s ability to manage it Complete and rigorous revision At the appointed time.

A public consultation must take place in a parliamentary committee before the revision can be submitted next October. There is a risk that these consultations will take place after the deadline QuickShe warns.