Climate Plan
Photo : Sébastien St-Jean
As part of the Accelerating Local Climate Transition (ATCL) program, deployed by the Government of Quebec, the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent is undertaking the development of its first Climate Plan.
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What is a Climate Plan?
The Climate Plan is a planning document that guides an MRC’s actions in addressing climate change.
It relies on the mobilization of all stakeholders in the territory: municipalities, local organizations, businesses, and citizens. This collaboration is essential to properly understand local realities and implement suitable, effective actions.
Once the Climate Plan is adopted, the MRC and its partners will move forward with implementing the identified actions, in order to achieve the objectives set and work toward a more resilient territory for future generations.
In concrete terms, it will help protect citizens, infrastructure, and natural environments from climate hazards. It will also promote more sustainable use of our resources, while supporting the community’s economic and social vitality.
It sets clear objectives and measurable targets, based on two components: adaptation and mitigation.
Adaptation
Adaptation involves better preparing for the effects of climate change. This part of the process helps identify risks related to climate hazards, such as flooding and heat waves, as well as the consequences for the territory’s systems that may be affected, such as natural environments and the population. It then helps determine the most relevant measures to implement, based on priorities and available resources.
This component aims to reduce the negative consequences of climate change and make natural environments and communities more resilient.
Mitigation
Mitigation involves reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contribute to climate change. This part of the process helps measure emissions produced within the territory, set reduction targets, and identify actions to achieve them.
The mitigation component helps identify which sectors emit the most GHGs, which partners need to be mobilized, and which measures will have the greatest impact.
FAQ
Accelerating Local Climate Transition (ATCL) is a Government of Quebec program aimed at supporting municipalities and MRCs in implementing concrete actions to fight climate change.
As part of a Climate Plan, the ATCL plays a key role by providing financial and technical support to MRCs for the development and implementation of local measures, fostering a coherent, structured climate transition adapted to the realities of the territory.
A climate hazard is a climate event or phenomenon, amplified or caused by climate change, that may affect a territory — such as heat waves, flooding, or freeze-thaw cycles.
A system is a component of the territory that can be affected by climate hazards, such as natural environments, buildings, infrastructure, the population, and local economic activities.
Greenhouse gas emissions refer to gases released into the atmosphere, notably from transportation, heating, and industrial and agricultural activities. These gases trap heat and contribute to climate warming. Reducing these emissions is essential to limiting climate change and its consequences.