Program Co-ordinator: Claude Desjarlais

Context

• Diversified and mainly tertiary economy.
• Natural resources play a very important role in the Quebec economy:
  • forestry, agriculture, hunting and fishing = 2% of the provincial economy, or $3.8 billion
  • hydroelectricity = $7.8 billion.
• A large proportion of the economy is likely to be affected directly or indirectly by climate change.
• The impact will not be felt evenly across the board: rural regions are much more dependant on climate-related activities: agriculture, fishing, tourism, forestry.
• The survival of some communities will depend on their ability to adapt effectively to this new climate context.

Objectives

• Assess the economic and social impacts for all the main Quebec regions.
• Assess the adaptability of the communities concerned, and suggest possible adaptations.

Research projects

• Skiing and golf (tourism)
• Energy demand
• Economic evaluation guide