COP15: already major State investments
The Premier of Quebec, François Legault./Josie Desmarais/Métro
At the opening of COP15 in Montreal, François Legault and Justin Trudeau were quick to get noticed by announcing major investments in the protection of biodiversity.
Québec is adopting a “Nature Plan” and reiterating its promise to protect 30% of its territory by 2030. To do this, $650 million will be invested over the next seven years. François Legault made the announcement on Monday, in his opening speech at COP15.
“With the Nature Plan, we are not only protecting our rich natural heritage in Quebec, but we are also reiterating our contribution to achieving global biodiversity objectives,” said the Premier in a press release.
Quebec is investing for the present and for the future; we must bequeath our landscapes, their beauty and their authenticity to our children.
François Legault
The Nature Plan, the details of which “will be made public shortly”, will be developed with various actors from civil society, including conservation organizations, private companies and indigenous communities.
It will notably include the acquisition of natural environments on private land in southern Quebec, where biodiversity is greater. Measures will also be taken to identify and monitor threatened or vulnerable species.
In addition, the government of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) promises to support the creation of protected areas indigenous people and to “quickly” create a fund for water.
“No less than 3% of the planet's water resources are found on our territory. We have an incredible opportunity, but also a great responsibility and a role to play in the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale,” said Environment Minister Benoit Charette.
$800M from Ottawa for indigenous-conservation initiatives
For its part, Ottawa will invest up to $800 million over seven years, starting in 2023-2024, to support four biodiversity protection projects led by Indigenous peoples, Justin Trudeau announced this morning, as part of the COP15.
“By bringing together Indigenous and Western knowledge, we can tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, strengthen our relationships with Indigenous communities, and build a better future for all” , for his part underlined the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, in a press release.
The natural areas concerned are located in the Great Bear marine area, in British Columbia ; in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of northern Ontario; in the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut and in the Northwest Territories.
These projects, when completed, will total approximately one million square kilometers of protected area.
