Quebec announces $650 million to protect 30 per cent of its territory by 2030
Quebec is taking advantage of the opening of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) on biodiversity in Montreal to announce an investment of $650 million to ensure the protection of 30 per cent of its territory by 2030.
Quebec Premier François Legault, accompanied by Environment Minister Benoit Charette, made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
According to François Legault, this plan is "the most important investment in the protection of the territory and biodiversity in the history of Quebec."
The premier said the "Nature 2030 Plan" will have three components: the first is "to give Quebecers more access to nature"; the second is "to protect our threatened and vulnerable species"; and the third "is to support Indigenous leadership in biodiversity conservation."
The preservation of 30 per cent of the land and oceans is the flagship goal of COP15.
"I am first and foremost very proud that our government has increased Quebec's protected area from 10 per cent to 17 per cent. We are now the first in Canada in terms of the absolute size of protected areas. And I am committed today to reaching the target of 30 per cent of protected areas by 2030," said Legault in a speech to delegates from 196 countries, but also in the presence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.
People hike to a lookout point in the Hautes Gorges de la Riviere Malbaie National Park, a provincial park in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, on Sunday, June 10, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
In his speech, the Quebec premier highlighted the province's "clean energy."
"Hydro-Quebec has just signed a major contract to export clean energy to New York State. This clean energy will allow New York State to eliminate the equivalent [greenhouse gases] of one million cars. This is proof that states like Quebec can make a difference internationally, and for the planet," he said.
He also recalled that last June, Benoit Charrette designated 11 new plant species as threatened or vulnerable and that his government announced last week the designation of 27 new wildlife species as threatened or vulnerable.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 6, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'COVID is not done,' Canadian infectious disease expert says ahead of WHO announcement
While RSV and flu cases steadily decline in Canada, the World Health Organization is set to announce on Monday whether it still considers COVID-19 a global health emergency, but one infectious disease specialist says we still need to keep an eye on the coronavirus.

Father pushing Manitoba to follow Ontario, Saskatchewan in screening for CMV
Roughly one in 200 babies born in Canada today will have congenital cytomegalovirus, a virus that can lead to hearing loss, intellectual disability or vision loss. But with only two provinces screening newborns for CMV, one father is asking other health-care systems to do more.
23 vehicles towed, dozens of tickets issued as rally marks one-year anniversary of 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa
OPS and Ottawa Bylaw officers issued 192 parking tickets and 67 Provincial Offences Notices in downtown Ottawa this weekend, as hundreds of people marked the one-year anniversary of the 'Freedom Convoy'.
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion dies at 101
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion, nicknamed 'Hurricane Hazel,' has died. She was 101 years old. Premier Doug Ford said McCallion died peacefully at her home early Sunday morning.
As Canada's RCMP marks 150th anniversary, a look at what it says needs to change
After years of reports and allegations detailing a 'toxic' workplace, Canada's RCMP says it is trying to evolve, focusing on diversity in its organization and repairing relationships with communities as it marks its 150th anniversary.
'24,' 'Runaways' actor Annie Wersching has died at 45
Actor Annie Wersching, best known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the series '24' and providing the voice for Tess in the video game 'The Last of Us' has died. She was 45.
Russian teen faces years in jail over social media post criticizing war in Ukraine
A Russian teenager must wear an ankle bracelet while she is under house arrest after she was charged over social media posts that authorities say discredit the Russian army and justify terrorism.
Ryan Reynolds goes through range of emotions in FA Cup match
Ryan Reynolds went from joy to despair, and punch-the-air ecstasy to desolation.
Russian shelling leaves 3 dead, 6 wounded in Ukrainian city of Kherson
Friends and volunteers gathered Sunday at Kyiv's St Sophia's Cathedral to say goodbye to Andrew Bagshaw, who was killed in Ukraine while trying to evacuate people from a front-line town. This comes as Russian forces heavily shelled the city of Kherson, killing three people and wounding six others, the regional administration said.