The Government of Québec welcomes President Obama’s latest initiative for fighting climate change

Québec, August 4, 2015 – The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, David Heurtel, welcomes the Clean Power Plan that was recently announced by U.S. President Barack Obama, which aims at regulating fossil-fuel power plants in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“In addition to recognizing the crucial role of subnational governments in the fight against climate change, the Clean Power Plan takes a step in the right direction by paving the way for an ambitious climate agreement this December in Paris,” affirmed Minister Heurtel.

Québec is a major partner of several American states that are committed to fighting climate change, notably California, with which Québec has linked its carbon market under the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). Moreover, Québec Premier Philippe Couillard and Minister Heurtel have held a great number of meetings with U.S. governors over the last year, reiterating their will to strengthen the role played by subnational governments in the fight against climate change.

The Clean Power Plan recognizes carbon market mechanisms, such as those of the WCI, and of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that includes nine Northeast American states, as efficient and cost-effective measures to enable states to reach their regulatory objectives. “Here in North America and elsewhere in the world, the movement in favour of carbon pricing continues to grow stronger. In addition to bolstering the relaunch and sustainable development of our economies, our combined action makes it possible for us to fight climate change together and ensure a quality of life for our children,” the Minister concluded.

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Guillaume Bérubé

Press Officer

Cabinet of the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change