Ongoing
Quebecers will go to the polls on October 5, 2026. During this election campaign, decisions about our health, quality of life, transportation, food, land and ability to adapt to climate change are all part of the public debate.
Vire au vert, a non-partisan coalition of 24 environmental and civil society organizations, is putting forward concrete solutions to inform the discussion among political parties and the public.
In 2026, the coalition’s work focuses on issues such as clean air and water, access to healthy and local food, sustainable mobility, the protection of natural areas, climate adaptation and Quebec’s resilience and autonomy.
Throughout the campaign, Vire au vert is also providing debates, events and practical tools to help people learn about the issues, ask candidates questions and prepare to vote.
Since 2018, Vire au vert has been bringing environmental issues to the heart of election campaigns in Quebec.
This non-partisan citizen mobilization initiative brings together environmental and civil society organizations to inform and equip the public, support debates and opportunities to engage with candidates, and highlight environmental solutions connected to the major issues of the election campaign.
Together with the other organizations in the coalition, Équiterre helps give Quebecers the tools and information they need to take part in the democratic process and make informed choices.
Vire au vert does not support or oppose any political party or candidate.
81%
of Quebecers are worried about climate impacts on their health and on public health, on their personal finances and on public finances.
Source: Sondage Léger, May 2022.
Provincial election
For Quebec’s October 5 election, Vire au vert brings together 24 environmental and civil society organizations around a set of shared priorities.
The coalition has put forward policy proposals, conducted public opinion research on environmental and quality-of-life issues, supported debates and public events across Quebec, and developed tools to help people learn about the issues and take part in the election campaign.
Municipalities are on the front lines when crises arise, whether social, environmental, or economic.
Environmental issues cannot be ignored in the decision-making process of elected officials.
April - Federal Elections
Quebec Environmental Consensus
2,087 people participated in our mobilization campaign to ask federal political parties to commit to respecting the Quebec Environmental Consensus.
On the eve of the federal election, four of the five main political parties—the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Liberal Party (LPC), and the Green Party—committed to respecting the Quebec Consensus on the Environment in the development of their respective political platforms.
More than 17,000 Quebecers called for a leaders' debate exclusively on the environment!
Thanks to the efforts of Équiterre and the Vire au vert initiative, the environment has taken on an unprecedented role in the election campaign:
3 chefs committed to putting the environment at the heart of all their decisions at our “green carpet” event
The environmental theme opened each of the Radio-Canada and TVA debates, and garnered significant airtime: 18 minutes at TVA and 22 minutes at Radio-Canada, compared to zero and 16 minutes respectively four years earlier.
125 candidates presented their vision of the climate and biodiversity crises to voters during the Vire au vert interviews and debates.
On November 7, 2021, a breath of fresh air blew through Quebec! Many new mayors and city councilors who had made commitments to the environment were elected across the province. The environment, women and youth were the big winners in this municipal election. Talking about the environment is clearly no longer a risk: it's a win.
The environmental movement is reaching our city halls. And it's thanks to the thousands of citizens who mobilized and voted with the environment in mind and to the work of environmental organizations like Vire au vert! Municipalities play a crucial role in the implementation of the ecological transition.
In 2018, Vire au vert helped put the environment at the heart of the provincial election campaign in Quebec.
Our ultimate goal: that political parties make ambitious commitments with regards to the environment. We identified 23 environmental priorities that we wanted to see included in the electoral platforms of each of the political parties in Quebec. We also mobilized, equipped and supported citizens to express their environmental concerns to political parties and their candidates, their entourage and the public.
Unfortunately, some party leaders do not want to have a debate in English. This is a separate problem. But as an environmental organization, it is our role to ensure that environmental issues are front and centre for the October 3rd provincial election. Our Vire au vert campaigns are generally deployed in French with English translation when possible, such as in the 2021 municipal elections. For the 2022 provincial election, Vire au vert’s propositions were created in French for the political parties. However when it comes to climate action, especially during an election campaign, everyone is encouraged to take action and pressure the parties to propose environmental solutions. Even though the environmental debate that we’re asking for will be held in French, we encourage English-speaking Quebecers to sign the petition to urge Quebec news networks to hold a debate exclusively on climate change. Debates generally offer a live translation.
Project Manager, Mobilization
meleclerc@equiterre.org
