Québec Introduces Bill Aimed At Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Will require certain emitters to report emissions and will set emission caps using a 1990 baseline.

On May 12, 2009, Québec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks introduced a bill (Bill 42) to amend Quebec's Environmental Quality Act and Other Legislative Provisions in Relation to Climate Change to Québec's National Assembly. Bill 42 aims at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Bill 42 proposes a cap-and-trade system which distances itself from the currently proposed Federal system and which is more in line with what the new Obama administration has suggested may be adopted in the United States.

When adopted, Bill 42 will establish:

• the reporting of GHG emissions by certain categories of emitters determined by regulation, so that an inventory of GHG emissions may be taken and updated;