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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
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