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Table of contents
- Projects of national interest... for whom?
- Will Canada further limit its budget allocations for environmental protection?
- Will the federal government resist pressure from the auto industry?
- Will Quebec's next municipal governments be greener?
- What could we lose... or gain, when it comes to our farmland?
- How do new energy plans affect Quebecers and the environment?
- Quebec's commitments to limit GHGs still falling short?
- What can we expect from the world climate conference in Brazil?
The fall of 2025 will not be a simple return to business as usual. It will be a pivotal moment that will test the true willingness of our governments to deliver on the environment. Here are some of the hot topics that will be discussed this fall.
🇨🇦 Projects of national interest... for whom?
Passed under closure this summer, the federal bill dealing with projects of national interest will be clarified this fall. But what will these projects look like? Will the Canadian government build projects that are relevant and useful for the future or continue to focus on oil and gas projects?
If you ask us, projects of national interest should help make communities more resilient. They should help protect against the impacts of climate change, focus on modern and efficient infrastructure, invest in municipal, education, and health infrastructure to improve public services, and help strengthen food autonomy by developing local food supply and agricultural land.
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🇨🇦 Will Canada further limit its budget allocations for environmental protection?
Deferred until the fall, the federal budget will be decisive. Will the government finally get rid of fossil fuel subsidies in favour of a polluter-pay taxation system? Will it cut back on environmental spending to fund military defense, or other priorities?
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🇨🇦 Will the federal government resist pressure from the auto industry?
The next few weeks will be decisive when it comes to the ZEV standard (the law that requires automakers to sell more zero emission vehicles.) Quebec has already relaxed provincial standards to help the industry make up for lost ground in sales. Will the federal government also back down, as the auto industry calls for increased subsidies?
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🏙️ Will Quebec's next municipal governments be greener?
This fall, throughout Quebec, citizens will be voting to elect their municipal representatives. It’s an opportunity to hear candidates' positions and their concrete proposals for adapting our living environments to climate change—making transportation options safer for citizens, improving waste management, strengthening local infrastructure, developing energy sources and preserving agricultural land. It will provide an advance look at what the 2026 provincial election debates will look like.
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⚜️ What could we lose... or gain, when it comes to our farmland?
At the provincial level, Bill 86, which is intended to protect agricultural land, will soon have new regulations. The concern is that some measures could open the door to increased activity in areas that are zoned agricultural. This reform could transform our countryside - for better or for worse.
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⚜️ How do new energy plans affect Quebecers and the environment?
Quebec is set to unveil its action plan on energy development, as well as its action plan on biodiversity this fall. These plans are crucial to our future, and will have a direct impact on the environment, local communities and our farmland. On the energy development front, a record budget of $10.1 billion is planned to accelerate electrification, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and modernize the electrical power grid.
We’re concerned by a number of recent government decisions. One regulation adopted this summer, for example, allows certain projects to avoid an environmental assessment, which could weaken protections for natural environments and our communities.
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⚜️ Quebec's commitments to limit GHGs still falling short?
Quebec's greenhouse gas reduction target hasn’t changed in 10 years, but this fall, the government must review its ambition. As of now, Quebec is far from its target of -37.5% by 2030, having only managed to reduce GHG emissions by 7%. This year's new target cannot be lower than the previous one, which means that significant progress will have to be made. However, with the setbacks announced in the United States, there are concerns that Quebec could follow suit.
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Reducing GHG emissions: a few tips to help you understand what's at stake
🌎 What can we expect from the world climate conference in Brazil?
Climate disinformation will be at the centre of this year’s global climate conference, in Belém, Brazil. With the rise of fake news and environmental setbacks in the United States, this challenge is greater than ever. Another key issue that will guide the negotiations is international climate finance, which is essential to support adaptation and transition in the most vulnerable countries.
This conference will mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement. Ten years on, where do we really stand with our collective commitments?
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