The former environmental journalist from Duty, Louis-Gilles Francoeur, signs the book The green deposit – The disengagement of the Quebec state in the environment. The one who was formerly vice-president of the Bureau d'audiences publique sur l'environnement (BAPE) denounces the weakened role of the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change of Quebec (MELCC).
Does the Ministry of the Environment have the means to achieve its ambitions?
The MELCC's missions are of paramount importance, especially in the context of climate change and growing eco-anxiety among the population. Following the publication of IPCC report, which reports a climate crisis faster and stronger than expected, we are entitled to wonder if our government has the means to achieve its ambitions. This is the question that Louis-Gilles Francoeur addressed in his book The green deposit.
To achieve this, the author and Jonathan Ramacieri, researcher at the Institute for Research in Contemporary Economy, analyzed the budgets and functioning of the MELCC since its creation more than 40 years ago. Overall budget of less than 1 TP4T of the State budget, role of “support for promoters of potentially polluting projects”, dispersion of powers relating to the environment among various ministries, etc. : their findings are not very encouraging.
“It demonstrates, in a stark way, that governments have neglected the protection of the environment and ecosystems. » – Louis-Gilles Francoeur, The duty
Abandonment of the water sanitation file
Louis-Gilles Francoeur also notes a erosion of resources in three major issues, including that of water sanitation, alongside climate change and the restoration of mining sites.
This is remarkable work accomplished by Louis-Gilles Francoeur, who succeeded in demonstrating and expressing what we have been witnessing for years at Fondation Rivières. For all those who care about environmental and political issues, we invite you to read the powerful book The green deposit, published by Ecosociety.
