Quebec grapples with the allure of climate skepticism
Quebec's stance on carbon pricing and large-scale projects for Western Canadian oil and gas exports presents an intricate dilemma regarding its climate commitments and international alliances.
The Legault government's openness to pipeline projects raises concerns among experts, who fear it might jeopardize efforts to combat climate change. Annie Chaloux, a professor at the École de politique appliquée of the University of Sherbrooke, asserts that such actions could exacerbate the climate crisis and lead to irreversible damage.
The idea of utilizing Quebec territory to facilitate exports of Alberta's oil industry is, in her view, a denial of science. Chaloux argues that if the government truly understood the gravity of the climate crisis, it would not advocate for such projects.
Andréanne Brazeau, principal policy analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation, emphasizes that Quebec, as co-president of the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (BOGA), should maintain its commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. BOGA, an organization comprising nations that have made courageous decisions to move away from fossil fuels, faces potential undermining if Quebec were to renege on its promises.
The Legault government's stance on fossil fuel exports and carbon pricing, however, suggests some regional differences in climate policy within Canada. Quebec's carbon pricing system adds around 10 cents per litre to gasoline prices, but a majority of Quebec residents reportedly support ending this system. The province's carbon price also currently trades below Alberta's industrial carbon price, which Alberta has frozen due to concerns over competitiveness.
Despite these conflicting perspectives, the implications of prioritizing economic interests over climate commitments could significantly impact Quebec's international image and its fight against climate change. Such actions could result in exacerbated infrastructure degradation, increased extreme weather events, disrupted ecosystems, and additional burdens on healthcare systems and the economy.
In response to questions regarding the government's position on the issue, the office of Quebec's Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, did not respond.
- Environmental-science experts, such as Annie Chaloux and Andréanne Brazeau, argue that the Legault government's approach to fossil fuel exports and carbon pricing ignores the significance of science and climate-change research in environmental-science.
- The principle policy analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation, Andréanne Brazeau, claims that Quebec, as a member of the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (BOGA), should adhere to its commitments in policy-and-legislation to phase out fossil fuels, rather than pursuing oil industry exports.
- If Quebec were to prioritize economic interests over its climate commitments, as suggested by its stance on fossil fuel exports and carbon pricing, the general-news implications could see increased environmental degradation, extreme weather events, ecological disruptions, and economic and healthcare system burdens.
