MONTREAL - Quebec Premier Jean Charest says Ottawa needs to do more to reduce Canada's greenhouse emissions, as he committed Quebec to take a leadership role by accelerating its own efforts.
Charest said Monday the province will cut its emissions by at least 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and urged the federal Conservative government to raise its target above the three per cent it has set.
"It is in the interests of Canada, whose prosperity rests in large part on exportation, to give as much effort as its partners in this global fight," he said in a speech attended by the who's who of Quebec business leaders.
Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice said in the House of Commons that the government will be a constructive player at what may be the most difficult negotiations Canada has ever been involved in.
"We will, however, search out something that is superior to Kyoto and that suits our industrial needs, our climate and our geography as Canadians," he said during question period.
Charest acknowledged that the transition to using less carbon will be difficult for some business sectors, but he insisted the province can gain jobs and economic benefits from being a global leader.
Quebec can create green jobs while making its businesses more efficient and competitive, he said.
"Quebec has the resources, the know-how, the entrepreneurs and the infrastructures to become a symbol in the new green economy."
Quebec had vowed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent compared to 1990 levels as of 2012. Going further would put the province at the vanguard in North America and match the percentage cut advocated by Europe.
On a per capita basis, it would reduce the province's emissions to eight tonnes. The province's previous target was to cut emissions to 11 tonnes per capita, twice the reduction target for Canada as a whole.
By comparison, Europe plans to reduce its emissions to nine tonnes per capita.
The opposition Parti Quebecois and environmental groups want Quebec to reduce emissions by 25 per cent.
Charest held out the possibility of an even deeper cut in Quebec following international negotiation.
"I think that's a nice door he's left open for us to keep working at it and get Quebec to have an even more ambitious target," said Sidney Ribaux, co-founder of environmental group Equiterre, who introduced Charest to the Montreal council in international relations.
Ribaux said he believes Quebec will ultimately make money and create jobs by taking a leadership role in climate change.
And he accused Ottawa of being out of touch by saying its own regulations must wait until the United States acts and a global treaty is in place.
"We have a fed government that has now placed Canada basically as a renegade on the international scene."
