For Earth Day this year, Équiterre focused on protecting the earth that nourishes us: our agricultural land which, according to a new report by Quebec’s Sustainable Development Commissioner, is in danger.
Energy
A giant step for GHG reductions in our buildings
Great news! The Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC), which represents 50% of the Quebec population, has taken a bold step to decarbonize the buildings of the region. From now on, gas stoves will no longer be permitted in new small buildings, a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Équiterre and our partners have been working on this issue for a long time. The MMC is joining Prévost, Candiac and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, among other Quebec municipalities who have already begun this transition. A great example of how coming together can make big changes happen! We’re calling on the provincial government to join the movement by adopting legislation that is commensurate with the ambition of these municipalities.
If your municipality hasn’t yet joined the movement, encourage it to do so!
Companies are getting public funds to destroy unsold items
You won’t believe this. Some companies are destroying their new but unsold items in order to qualify for a program to get money from the federal government. In the context of the climate and social crises that we’re currently living in, Équiterre was outraged to learn about this government program that’s exacerbating the waste crisis with financial incentives. It’s not normal that it costs less to throw something out than to give it to someone in need. And it’s not normal that 20 million taxpayer dollars have been wasted by the government through this program over the past five years.
Équiterre has sent a letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, calling for this program to be abolished. We’ll be keeping an eye on the issue as we continue to fight the waste crisis - a consequence of our economic system that encourages overconsumption.
Reduction at the source
The scourge of plastic pollution
Never before has plastic been so ubiquitous in our lives. 460 million tonnes of plastic have been produced over the last two decades, most of which for single use, like packaging - as soon as you buy it, you throw it away. In Canada, only 6% of our plastic is recycled. The rest of it ends up in landfills or scattered around our cities and in nature.
Faced with this scourge, what measures should be taken? 176 countries gathered in Ottawa last week, determined to draw up an international treaty to better manage plastic pollution worldwide.
In order to maintain their profits in this period of food inflation, some brands have been replacing quality ingredients with cheaper alternatives. It’s called skimpflation, and it often goes unnoticed by consumers, because the industry is under no obligation to divulge this information. Shrinkflation is another concerning issue, whereby some brands will reduce the quantity of their product, without reducing the price.
At Équiterre, we’re preparing a campaign to help people make more informed food choices. We’re looking to demonstrate that small changes in our grocery baskets and on our plates can have profound impacts on our health, our finances and our planet. To learn more about how food can promote planetary health, have a look at this video (in French).
