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Cities and municipalities play a crucial role in the fight against climate change, being at the heart of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote more sustainable energy use. On World Energy Day, celebrated on October 22, it’s important to recognize the local initiatives that are making a significant difference. These cities, through their innovative actions and long-term commitment, are inspiring examples. By taking bold steps, these communities are showing the way forward and charting a sustainable course.

We have chosen to highlight six exemplary Quebec cities that prove that local action is essential to meeting global climate challenges. We have selected these municipalities for their innovative projects, their leadership in reducing GHG emissions, and their commitment to creating a sustainable future for their citizens.

Varennes

Varennes stands out as a true pioneer of the energy transition in Quebec. Over the years, the city has initiated numerous innovative projects that have transformed its energy landscape. Among its most notable achievements is the construction of Quebec’s first net-zero public building, a library equipped with solar panels that generates its own energy. Varennes has also been at the forefront in setting up a major biomethanization center, capable of processing organic matter to produce renewable natural gas, serving more than 750,000 people.

In addition, the city is participating in a pilot project to recover excess heat from industrial sectors to heat other facilities, demonstrating its commitment to harnessing circular energy solutions.

City of Montreal

Montreal is no slouch when it comes to concrete initiatives to reduce its GHG emissions and promote more sustainable energy use. The city has undertaken an ambitious public lighting conversion project, replacing over 132,000 street lighting fixtures with LED models. This conversion reduced energy consumption by 60% and extended the life of the equipment, while facilitating intelligent real-time management to adjust light intensity as required.

The City of Montreal has also adopted new measures, such as a by-law banning GHG-emitting fossil fuel appliances, such as gas heating systems and stoves, in new small buildings. This initiative, which takes effect in October 2024, aims to reduce emissions from buildings, which are responsible for over a third of Montreal’s GHGs.

Let’s also talk about the preservation and expansion of its green spaces, with the acquisition of land for the Grand parc de l’Est, intended to compensate for the deficit of green spaces in the east of the island. These measures are part of a broader vision of ecological transition, demonstrating the city’s commitment to building a more sustainable future and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Mont-Saint Hilaire

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is making a name for itself with concrete, innovative measures to achieve its decarbonization objectives, supported by the recent adoption of its 2023-2030 Climate Plan. As part of this plan, the town carried out an assessment of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which enabled it to structure its actions around four key themes: decarbonization, adaptation and resilience to climate change, protection and enhancement of biodiversity, and community involvement.

Among concrete initiatives, the town has installed solar panels on municipal buildings, improved the energy efficiency of its public infrastructure, and deployed electric vehicles for municipal services. In addition, Mont-Saint-Hilaire has set up awareness-raising programs to encourage citizens to reduce their carbon footprint, and invested in the sustainable management of green spaces to strengthen the community’s resilience in the face of climate change.

These concrete actions, combined with the clear objectives of the Climate Plan, demonstrate Mont-Saint-Hilaire’s leadership in the transition to a sustainable community, while collaborating with partners like Energère to maximize the impact of its initiatives.

Shawinigan

Carbon credits are much more than just a financial tool; they are an integral part of Quebec’s energy transition strategy. They

The City of Shawinigan has committed to a series of concrete measures, integrating sustainable development at the heart of its governance. Among its flagship actions, the city has significantly reduced its GHG emissions by cutting those linked to municipal buildings by more than 60%, notably by eliminating the use of fuel oil and converting public lighting to LEDs. Overall, Shawinigan has succeeded in reducing its corporate GHG emissions by 32% in a decade.

At the same time, the city has focused on adapting its infrastructures, such as installing larger culverts to better manage flood risks, thus responding to the urgent need to adapt its municipal infrastructures to the impacts of climate change.

Baie-Saint-Paul

In the fight against climate change, the size of a city matters little. Baie-Saint-Paul proves that a municipality can have a significant impact through concrete, determined action. The city has made a proactive commitment by adopting its 4th Sustainable Development Plan 2024-2030, which focuses on four major issues: climate action, environmental protection and enhancement, demographic dynamics and sustainable economy, and quality of life, equity and inclusion.

To achieve these objectives, 55 concrete actions have been defined, such as electrifying 60% of light municipal vehicles by 2030 and reducing drinking water consumption by 10%. In response to climate challenges, Baie-Saint-Paul has also implemented adaptation measures, such as the immunization of neighborhoods at risk of flooding and the development of a shoreline protection plan. Under the leadership of Mayor Michaël Pilote, the city has also chosen to adopt amber LED street lighting (rather than conventional LED), reflecting a long-term commitment. This bold choice not only saves energy, but also combats light pollution, preserving the quality of the night sky.

Boucherville

The City of Boucherville is another example of tangible action. The city recently revised its 2022-2031 Sustainable Development Plan, focusing on the climate emergency. The plan, developed in collaboration with citizens, incorporates 57 concrete actions to meet today’s environmental, social and economic challenges.

Among its flagship initiatives, Boucherville has updated its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and GHG reduction plan, aligning its objectives with Quebec’s carbon neutrality targets. The city is pursuing the electrification of its vehicle fleet, with a particular focus on energy efficiency. In addition, organic waste collection has been expanded, along with awareness programs to encourage environmentally-friendly practices among residents.

Mayor Jean Martel and his team have also supported the city’s energy efficiency improvements with a $12 million investment to complete the transition to LED lighting.

These efforts testify to Boucherville’s determination to protect its environment while ensuring a healthy and sustainable living environment for its citizens, showing that the size of the city matters little when the will to act is strong.

CONCLUSION

Cities and municipalities play a central role in the fight against climate change, a fact underlined by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante during her speech at the UN in New York. She asserted that cities are “innovation laboratories” where solutions for a sustainable future are built. This local leadership is decisive, because cities are not only the most affected by the impacts of climate change, they are also the best placed to respond in an agile and adapted manner.

Through concrete energy transition initiatives, municipalities are demonstrating that local action is essential to achieving global objectives. They are the driving force behind the ecological transition, implementing innovative solutions that not only improve citizens’ quality of life, but also point the way forward for the rest of the world. By making a firm commitment in this direction, these communities are proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to making a real difference for future generations and the preservation of our environment.

Energère is a strategic ally, fully embodying its positioning as “Energy with a purpose”. By putting its expertise at the service of cities, Energère helps them not only to measure and reduce their carbon footprint, but also to transform their energy infrastructure in a sustainable and intelligent way. Thanks to this decisive partnership, municipalities are no longer simply following the energy transition, they are leading it head-on, with tangible results that reinforce their role as leaders in sustainability.