Actuality¹⁴⁹

Earth Day, Every Day

CLIMATE RESILIENCE

Par

Alyssa Boily-Simard

JCCM

Environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and sustainable development have been crucial concerns for the youth of Montreal and Quebec for several years now.

In our study on the needs and aspirations of the business leaders of tomorrow conducted by Léger in 2021, 52% of respondents stated that they experience anxiety related to climate change, and 65% expressed a desire for more environmentally-friendly government actions. According to Léger, 38% of Quebecers aged 18 to 34 claim that their level of eco-anxiety has increased over the past year.

Consequently, Earth Day, first celebrated in 1970, still reflects the relevance of this collective awareness today. The JCCM believes that climate resilience, which is the ability for a business to consider climate-related risks and opportunities to better adapt its business model, is a necessity for organizations in Quebec. Today, more than ever, climate issues are part of our daily lives, and all stakeholders in our society must respond to them.

Getting Involved in Climate Resilience

Among the major conclusions of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is specified that climate change is primarily driven by the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Scientific literature is in agreement that climate transition will require a drastic change in our methods of production and consumption, including reducing the use of motorized vehicles and overproduction of manufactured goods.

In order to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), the City of Montreal has recently implemented a Climate Plan with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The Young Chamber takes this objective very seriously and is committed to reducing the GHG emissions of the Greater Montreal area by 55% by 2030, while also paving the way towards carbon neutrality. The JCCM will also be actively involved in the inaugural edition of the CLIMATE | MTL '22 Summit, where it will host a panel on climate action and young entrepreneurs, aimed at equipping major organizations with strategies to combat climate change. Concrete examples of projects aligned with climate objectives, ranging from decarbonization to sustainable mobility, will be discussed during the event.

It's not too late to take action

Given the urgency of this issue, the involvement of young professionals is crucial and will push companies to take more actions in their sustainability initiatives. After all, those aged 18-34 and the generations that follow will be the ones dealing with the effects of current environmental policies. It is now high time to take action. Let's remain hopeful and focus on the solutions to be implemented today.