Quebec at COP26: ‘It’s like we’ve forgotten the biggest challenge we have,’ says Legault

Legault participates from Tuesday to Thursday in his first mission as prime minister at a United Nations Conference.

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EDINBURGH, UK – Quebec participates in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, COP26, to “put a little pressure on all heads of state.”

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That’s what François Legault suggested Tuesday during an interview with The Canadian Press at an Edinburgh hotel.

“When we look at the reports (from climate change experts), it is clear that we are not going in the right direction,” he said.

Legault participates from Tuesday to Thursday in his first mission as prime minister at a United Nations Conference. This summit aims, among other things, to reach an agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Often accused by the opposition of a lack of eagerness to defend the environment, the CWC leader says that playing politics without worrying about climate change “makes no sense.”

“It’s like we’ve forgotten about the biggest challenge we have,” he said.

Although he was elected in 2018 with a fairly limited environmental program, the CAQ government now wants to lead by example.

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He said that Quebec is, among all the federal states of North America, the one that emits the least greenhouse gases per capita, just under 10 tons per capita, compared to an average of 20 tons in the rest of Canada.

“Quebec must be present, if only to put a little pressure on the other heads of state. (…) If you’re in politics, it’s normal to come here and say: ‘Hey, we have to act, and maybe look at Quebec, there are things we do well.’ “

The prime minister had already indicated that he intended to promote the sale of electric buses and trains designed and assembled in Quebec at COP26.

The mission’s promotional document states that Quebec is “essential” for its “electrical expertise”, from Hydro-Québec to battery construction and recycling.

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While all are calling on the US to make more binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Legault has yet to unveil new GHG reduction targets.

Quebec aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 37.5 percent in 2030 compared to 1990. But it fell short of the 20 percent reduction target set for 2020, reaching just six percent. Ultimately, all countries must achieve carbon neutrality, zero emissions, in GHG.

Legault said that Canada and the United States not only failed to meet their 2020 reduction target, but even increased their GHG emissions.

He also deplores the absence from COP26 of China, the world’s biggest polluter, and accuses India, another major polluter, of postponing the goal of achieving carbon neutrality until 2070.

“Without getting anxious, I have two sons, ages 28 and 29, and the future of the planet is worrying,” Legault said.

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Reference-montrealgazette.com

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