Montreal, May 12, 2023 - Nearly 900 people participated in the 2nd edition of the Montreal Climate Summit, organized by the Montreal Climate Partnership in collaboration with the City of Montreal, on May 9 and 10. At a time when the climate and biodiversity crises are twofold, leaders from the economic, philanthropic, institutional, union, community, environmental and civil society sectors mobilized to accelerate the decarbonization of the city and ensure its resilience to climate change. More than a dozen announcements were made during this annual meeting of climate action.
After the success of its first edition, the Montreal Climate Summit 2023 achieved its goal ofraising the bar on climate ambition and taking action. An incredible diversity of actors from the Greater Montreal area gathered behind concrete projects to make the city resilient and low-carbon. The decarbonization of mobility and buildings, the creation of resilient living environments and climate action as a vector of social justice were at the heart of the discussions. This 2nd edition also mobilized different sectors, such as health and philanthropy, in addition to providing tools to support companies in their transition. Rigor and transparency were also in the spotlight this year, as the Summit provided an opportunity to follow up on the climate commitments made during its first edition.
"The Montreal community is once again demonstrating that it is responding to the climate challenge. Not only has progress been made since the 1st Montreal Climate Summit, but new leaders are showing the way to transition and inspiring those who follow. The sustainable mobility pact is just one of the many actions that will lead us to a resilient and carbon neutral metropolis," said Karel Mayrand, President and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montreal, and Eric St-Pierre, Executive Director of the Trottier Family Foundation, co-chairs of the Climate Montreal Partnership.
Putting people back at the heart of climate action
This second edition was marked by the desire to integrate social issues into the climate and ecological transition, so that it is more equitable and inclusive. Several panels and workshops highlighted the crucial importance of tackling climate change and socio-economic inequalities together. More than ever, the social component of the transition is essential. Taking up the climate challenge is an opportunity not to be missed in order to respond to the loss of biodiversity and improve the health and quality of life of present and future generations. In this perspective, all sectors of society have a key role to play.
"This 2nd Climate Summit has shown how the fight against climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and the improvement of quality of life and health go hand in hand. The ever-growing mobilization, the inspiring projects that were presented, as well as the many new commitments made make me very proud and show that Montreal remains an international leader in climate action and resilience. I hope that it remains so. Reducing GHGs is a major challenge that requires a profound transformation of our society. The extraordinary mobilization of all partners, which we witnessed at the Climate Summit, is an essential key to achieving this goal," said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
Structural announcements for a green, fair and resilient metropolis
The 2nd edition of the Montreal Climate Summit brought together the city's driving forces to make it greener, fairer and more resilient. Numerous organizations have made new structural commitments:
- Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante presented the City of Montreal's roadmap for decarbonizing transportation by 2040, including the pedestrianization of Old Montreal, the deployment of a sustainable mobility corridor and a decarbonized urban logistics strategy;
- Canada's Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault announced an investment of $40 million to plant more than 275,000 trees in the Montreal area. He also announced $187 million to meet climate targets in Quebec, including $60 million to help low-income households in the province switch from home heating oil and $127 million to support initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Trottier Family Foundation announced a $10 million investment to decarbonize hospitals and make Quebec's healthcare system more resilient, including through collaborations with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Synergie santé environnement, and health and social services institutions in the Greater Montreal area.
- The Port of Montreal has announced a series of commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, protect 30% of the environments under its management and improve the city-port interface;
- The Greater Montreal Climate Fund and Efficiency Capital have announced the creation of the MultiRés program to decarbonize mid-rise buildings in Greater Montreal;
- The McConnell Foundation and the Trottier Family Foundation have donated $12 million to the League of Canadian Low-Carbon Communities (LC3) to support the decarbonization of Canada's major cities;
- The Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal, Partenariat Climat Montréal and Écotech Québec have announced the implementation of theClimate Pole initiative to facilitate the decarbonization of small businesses;
- The Foundation of Greater Montreal, Vivre en Ville and several partners are joining forces to produce Greater Montreal's Vital Signs on Territorial Inequities;
- Concordia University has unveiled its roadmap for developing a GHG emissions dashboard for Montreal. This announcement follows the Net/Zero Plan;
- BMO has announced that it has joined the Climate Montreal Partnership Steering Committee;
- The Transition en Commun coalition has announced that it has received $500,000 from the Fondation André et Lucie Chagnon to fund citizen ecological transition projects.
More than 25 partner organizers in the program
The Summit is organized by Partenariat Climat Montréal, in collaboration with the City of Montréal, and with the direct contribution of the Centre d'études et de recherches intersectorielles en économie circulaire, the Centre Intact d'adaptation au climat - Université de Waterloo, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal, the Coalition montréalaise des Tables de quartier, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, the Conseil régional de l'environnement de Montréal, Coop Carbone, COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques, Culture Montréal, Econoler, the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec - FTQ, Finance Montréal, Fondaction, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, the Climate Fund of Greater Montreal, HEC Montréal, the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal, Philanthropic Foundations Canada, OGIVE art and education, Project collective impact - Centraide of Greater Montreal, Propulsion Québec Grappe des transports électriques et intelligents, Transition en commun, UNIVER/CITY 2030 and Vivre en Ville.
The Montreal Climate Summit is made possible thanks to the support of the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal, Fondaction, Fonds Climat du Grand Montréal, Cogeco Media, Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, CDPQ, Desjardins, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Matrox Video, Hydro-Québec, Énergir, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal, the Foundation of Greater Montreal, Altitude C, COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques and Soverdi.
To consult the complete program: sommetclimatmtl.com/sommet-climat-2023
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About the Partenariat Climat Montréal
Launched at the initiative of the Foundation of Greater Montreal and the Trottier Family Foundation, the Climate Montreal Partnership (CMP) is an independent initiative that brings together nearly one hundred economic, community, institutional and philanthropic organizations. Its mission is to mobilize the key players in the Montreal community to help reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 and put the city on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050.
The MCP builds on the successful collaboration established in 2018-19 by a group of philanthropic foundations with the City of Montréal and the C40 Cities organization to develop the City’s Climate Plan and is inspired by the best engagement models internationally, such as the Green Ribbon Commission in Boston and London Business Climate Leaders. The partnership places the city among the leading global metropolises in the C40 by making the ecological transition a pillar of its prosperity and attractiveness. The initiative is funded by the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, the McConnell Foundation and the City of Montréal. For more information: climatmontreal.com
Information
Marie-Eve St-Onge
COPTICOM
514-601-5504
mestonge@copticom.ca