Canada/MRC des Basques: The community at the heart of action against climate change

The MRC des Basques recently launched its Climate Plan, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gases, strengthening the population's resilience and adapting living environments to climate change.

The impacts of climate change continue to cause concern. Thanks to a Quebec City program, the MRC des Basques has obtained approximately one million dollars to develop a Climate Plan and implement concrete actions.

"At the level of the MRC, of the Basques, we've brought this to the local level, to the human level. "says Roch Guévremont, Director of Urban Planning and Development and Climate Plan Coordinator for the Basques MRC.

The MRC wants the Climate Plan to be a community project. That's why it has launched an ideas competition inviting citizens to propose concrete, innovative projects to combat climate change.

"It's really important that the community, the collectivity, the citizens participate, get involved. We have a project that we want to work on collectively, and now's the time to get on board and stand together. We're a small community, there aren't many of us, but together we're capable of achieving something great, and I sincerely believe in it. "says Roch Guévremont.

To mobilize the population, a series of videos were produced and broadcast on digital platforms. They give a voice to committed citizens from different backgrounds. Among the spokespersons is Isabelle Blouin, founder of Thuya, a project that offers accompaniment programs in nature.

The Climate Plan coordinator believes that the initiative concerns everyone.

"The entire population, from young people to the elderly, because it's going to be important for our seniors to have resilient environments so that they can get through this. But it's also important for young people to take action towards the future, but to be motivated and not depressed by the situation we're living in. "he says.

The notion of resilience is particularly important for the MRC des Basques, which is affected by coastal erosion, a phenomenon that is worsening with climate change.

Source: cimtchau.ca/