It’s a go!

I am very pleased and enthused to launch my new column in weekly today. I have been working in environmental protection for over 10 years now and have had the opportunity to do so in Quebec, Canada and around the world. I can tell you that I have not found such a high level of interest in the cause, as what I have witnessed in Quebec over the past few years.

The other day, I met a French journalist who recently published a work on the issue of climate change. He told me that he simply could not believe just how important the environmental issue has become in the public arena, and that it has never been such a hot topic in France.

Quebecers too are interested in environmental matters and are looking for answers, tips and solutions to problems affecting the environment. They want to know what they can do to protect the planet. And I always tell them that there are many things that can be done to reduce our level of pollution.

There are, of course, small actions like reducing waste, recycling, not leaving on the tap, not letting the car run for nothing, etc. These are important, if not crucial, in our fight to protect the Earth. Yet we often have the impression that we are the only ones doing these things, as we watch our neighbour doing…nothing at all. Maybe that’s true for your neighbour, but it isn’t for the community in general.

In addition to the individual actions described above, there are collective actions we can take. These include convincing our employers to set up recycling and car pooling programs, asking our municipalities to increase the number of bike paths, to name a few.

The purpose of my column will therefore be to keep you informed on important environmental news, celebrate people’s achievements in this area, blow the whistle when this is called for, and, last but not least, provide you with tips and hints to be more eco-friendly in your everyday life.

Steven Guilbeault

Spokesperson, Équiterre