A year ago, the Groupe d’experts en adaptation (group of adaptation experts; GEA) published a report emphasizing the growing importance of preparing Quebec for the realities of climate change. Recent events (forest fires, floods, landslides, infrastructure failures) are a powerful reminder of the need to anticipate and manage the impacts these changes are having on our communities and our economy. While the human, economic and social costs of these events are significant and will intensify, realistic courses of action exist to strengthen our resilience and reduce costs.
Recent findings illustrate this. In 2024, insured losses related to natural disasters broke records by reaching $8.5 billion in Canada, of which $2.8 billion was in Quebec1. While these figures underscore the magnitude of the challenges ahead, they also highlight the urgency of investing in effective adaptation measures to limit future costs, which could reach $25 billion annually.
Feasible solutions on the table
The GEA report, published a year ago, proposed a constructive roadmap for building a more resilient Quebec. Its 20 recommendations, grouped under five key priorities (ecosystems, health, infrastructure, the economy, and stakeholder engagement), offer practical solutions to strengthen our individual and collective capacity to deal with climate change.
Adaptation is an effort that requires the involvement of every organization and government ministry. Integrating climate scenarios into our public policy, reducing risks at the source, and supporting the most vulnerable populations are essential steps that require intersectoral collaboration and the systematic consideration of adaptation ahead of every type of action.
Moving from recommendations to action
The government and municipalities have already undertaken adaptation efforts, such as the modernization of the regulatory framework for wetlands and the enhancement of support programs for municipalities. However, this work needs to accelerate. Some of the GEA’s recommendations can be implemented quickly, often without large investments, by optimizing existing programs, taking future climate scenarios into account, improving coordination, setting clear priorities, and increasing support for local organizations. Acting now is an economic and humanitarian imperative, as every day of delay will translate into exponentially higher human and financial costs tomorrow.
A new sub-committee to accelerate implementation
With this in mind, the Comité consultatif sur les changements climatiques (climate change advisory committee) and its partners are mobilizing to support this collective response. The creation of a permanent subcommittee on adaptation, made up of experts from key disciplines, is part of this effort. The subcommittee will be responsible for supporting ministries, municipalities, and other stakeholders in the interpretation and implementation of the GEA’s recommendations. It reflects a commitment to dialogue, consistency, and the provision of the kind of technical and strategic expertise that is essential in this new climate era. The time for contemplation is over: now, it’s time for concerted, determined action to build a safer, more resilient and sustainable Quebec for future generations.
Comité consultatif sur les changements climatiques
