We must learn from the current pandemic which lays the foundations for future climate crises, believe the Dre Mylène Drouin, Director of Public Health of Montreal, and Colleen Thorpe, Executive Director of Equiterre, who were invited to discuss “post-pandemic perspectives” as part of a virtual recognition event organized by The duty.
“The pandemic has revealed what public health is,” the D said at the outset.re Drouin. It also allowed us to see its fragility and its capital importance. […] We see that when there are links in the chain that are weaker, we need to consolidate the health system. And faced with climate issues, [avec] pandemics and health emergencies that we will have in the coming years, we need to collectively ensure that this health system is solid. “
Asked about what gave her hope for the future, the Dre Drouin spoke of “Quebecers’ solidarity”, “areas of compromise and dialogue to make the best decisions” and innovations in various areas of society. “Now, we have to project ourselves and transpose that to other major planetary issues, [tel que] the climate crisis, ”she added.
A question of survival
Her concerns resonated with Colleen Thorpe, Executive Director of Equiterre. “It’s a practice, because we know that climate change will have a big impact on health. It is above all a matter of public safety and I am not exaggerating when I say survival. But there is no vaccine for the climate crisis. “
The environmentalist in particular made the link between the supply disruptions of certain products during the pandemic and those to be expected due to droughts, heat waves and floods linked to the climate crisis.
But she remains hopeful, because the pandemic has demonstrated, she said, that it is possible to tackle a problem of this magnitude when there is political will. “The pandemic teaches us that government can act swiftly and decisively and cross partisanship to achieve a goal. We cannot have a better example. “
Resilience
On the economic front, the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Michel Leblanc, said he was “extremely confident” to see the city’s economy – and Quebec’s – regain its dynamism. “Our economy is incredibly resilient,” he argued. According to him, green electricity and Quebecers’ capacity for innovation are “extremely powerful assets” that will allow a recovery. “At the end of the pandemic, if we are able to reactivate our international relations […], our economy is going to be extremely robust. “
For her part, the president of the Union des artistes, Sophie Prégent, recalled how much they have been affected by the pandemic. “We really felt like we were on the Titanic, where we were asked to continue playing the violin. “But the public was there, she rejoiced.
Finally, the rector of Université Laval, Sophie D’Amour, maintained that she was basing her hopes on young people. “We have great generations to come, who want to contribute and who are very sensitive to the fight against climate change. They have the tools to make a significant contribution. “
Watch video
Reference-feedproxy.google.com