Climate Change consideration in Quebec …...4 Fight against Climate Change in Quebec Until now 2013 Carbon Market with Cap-and-Trade system 2009 2020 Target (-20%)* 2006 2012 Target

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Climate Change consideration in

Quebec Environmental Assessment

IAIA2017 Montréal – April 6, 2017Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement

et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques

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Environmental authorization in Quebec under the EQA

Legal framework

The Environment Quality Act (EQA)

• Centerpiece of the Quebec system of environmental protection,

adopted in 1972

• Environmental authorization can be issued by the :

– Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Fight

against Climate Change

– Quebec Government (southern Quebec)

– Administrators of the James Bay and Northern Quebec

Agreement (JBNQA) and of the Northeastern Quebec

Agreement (NQA) (Northern Quebec)

• Modernization of the authorization scheme by the modification of

the EQA was initiated in 2015 (Bill n°102 : An Act to amend the

Environment Quality Act to modernize the environmental

authorization scheme and …)

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Quebec Environmental Assessment Procedures (EAP)Different regimes

Territory under JBNQA (north of 55th parallel)

Territory under JBNQA (south of 55th parallel)

Moinier Region

Southern Quebec

Procedures in

Northern Quebec

Procedure in Southern Quebec

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Fight against Climate Change in QuebecUntil now

2013Carbon Marketwith Cap-and-Trade system

20092020 Target

(-20%)*

2006 2012 Target

(-6%)*

2001 Creation of Ouranos, a

Consortium on Regional

Climatology and Adaptation to CC

2017EQA Modernization

and TEST-CLIMAT

2006Green Fund

Creation

20122013-2020

CC Action Plan20062006-2012

CC Action Plan 20122013–2020

Government Strategy for

CC Adaptation

20152030 Target(-37,5%)*

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

*Below 1990 GHG emissions level

20152050

Objectives(- 80 to 90%)*

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The Quebec EAP and CC considerationUntil now

Project Notice

Minister’s guideline

Preparation of the impact statement (proponent)

Questions and comments from the Ministry

Realisation / Exploitation

Monitoring, follow-up

Environmental analysis

(Ministry)

Public Participation

(BAPE)

Minister’s analysis and recommandation

Government Decision (Order in Council)

Ministerial authorization

(Certificate(s) of authorization)

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The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on

To promote adaptation to CC and minimize GHG emissions through

the optimization of development projects → Two main approaches :

• Integrate requirements in the legal framework : through the

Modernization of the EQA, with the Test-Climat

• Adapt the authorization processes themselves

(methodologies, tools, guidelines, etc.): through the

Action 10.1 of the 2013-2020 CC Action Plan

7The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on : Integrate requirements in the legal framework

The Modernization of the EQA

The Bill 102 was adopted on March 23, 2017

The concept of Test-Climat is reflected in the new provisions of the EQA,

Sections 24, 25, 31.1.1, 31.9 and 95.1.

When issuing a ministerial authorization, the Minister :

• Must consider GHG emissions and reduction measures (cases prescribed

by Government regulation).

• Can consider CC impacts and risks on the project and its receiving

environment, as well as the required adaptation measures.

• Can take into consideration Quebec's commitments to reduce GHG

emissions.

• Can prescribe adaptation or reduction measures.

8The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on : Integrate requirements in the legal framework

The Modernization of the EQA

The concept of Test-Climat is reflected in the new provisions of the EQA,

Sections 24, 25, 31.1.1, 31.9 and 95.1.

For the governmental authorization :

• The Test-Climat would be applied for the environmental assessment

(GHG emissions reduction and adaptation to CC).

• These elements will be considered in the analysis of the project's

environmental acceptability and therefore in the government's decision

to authorize the project, with or without conditions.

• Conditions of authorization may relate to adaptation or reduction

measures.

• Public opinion continues to be considered in the Government decision.

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The concept of Test-Climat is reflected in the new provisions of the EQA,

Sections 24, 25, 31.1.1, 31.9 and 95.1.

For both ministerial and governmental authorizations :

• For GHG emissions, the level of analysis and requirements will be

proportional to the level of the GHG emissions.

• For adaptation, the level will depend on the magnitude of the CC risks and

impacts, as well as the degree of vulnerability of the project and its

environment to these CC risks and impacts.

The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on : Integrate requirements in the legal framework

The Modernization of the EQA

10The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on : Adapt the authorization processes

The Action 10.1

Origin and financing

• The CC Action Plan 2013-2020 : one of Quebec’s main tool for

fighting CC, budget is derived from the Green Fund.

• The Fonds Vert (Green Fund) : funds must be used for the

purposes for which it was collected. Part of the funds are coming

from the Carbon Market and therefore used to fight against CC.

• The Action 10.1 : Adapt environmental assessment and

authorization processes to better consider CC in ministerial and

governmental decision-making. This action is led by the

Environmental and Strategic Impact Assessment unit in collaboration

with the Regional Analysis and Expertise unit of the Ministry, with a

budget of 3M$ until March 31st, 2020.

11The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on : Adapt the authorization processes

The Action 10.1

The activity plan for the action 10.1 :

1) Consideration of CC in environmental assessment and authorization processes :

review of actions from jurisdictions outside of Quebec

− Final report for September 2017

2) Description and Analysis of the state of reference for the consideration of CC in

environmental assessment and authorization processes in Quebec

− Final report for September 2017

3) Identification and prioritization of the needs of both departments (the Environmental

and Strategic Assessment Branch and the Regional Analysis and Expertise Branch

− Final report for January 2018

4) Adaptation Action Plan (AAP) elaboration

− Action Plan for February 2018

5) Implementation of the AAP in both departments (branches) and coordination of

actions

− From March 2018 to March 2020

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The Quebec EAP and CC considerationFrom now on – The Action 10.1 and the EQA Modernization

NEW EQA

Adoption

2021

Adaptation Action Plan for

the environmentalauthorization

sector

Test-Climat

applicable (in force)

Implementation of the Adaptation Action Plan for the environmental authorization sector

2018 2019 20202017

Test-Climat application rules to bedefined

• Adjustment to existing tools • Development of new tools• Training for analysts and project managers• Knowledge acquisition projects• Monitoring and evaluation of real impacts and

benefits, adjustments, etc.

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Challenges, Limits, Opportunities

EIA can definitively contribute to the global efforts in addressing CC, but

there are still many challenges down the road to make it efficient and

maximize the benefits :

• Knowledge acquisition and transfer toward projects and practitioners :

– Reference data for current and future climate

– Risk and impacts forecast

– Technologies and practices for GHG emissions reduction (reduction,

capture, valorization)

• Technology development, access and application

• Minimize costs and maximize profits for green industries, especially in an

international market context

• Fairness in application

• Calculating GHG emissions

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Challenges, Limits, Opportunities

Some limits :

• Existing projects

• Level of awareness among the proponents and the public (as a client or

consumer)

The main opportunities :

• Integrate CC consideration right at the outset of the project development

phase, in order to make sure they are well adapted to a CC context and

that GHG emissions have been minimize

• Integrate CC consideration in the decision making process

• Increase awareness on the importance of the fight against CC : better

adapt to CC and reduce the GHG emissions

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http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/evaluations/inter_en.htm

http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/changementsclimatiques/index-en.htm

http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/lqe/autorisations/index.htm

Thank You

Merci

Merci

Thank You