Opinion : Protecting biodiversity requires courage, consistency and concrete action

[READ IN LE DEVOIR (French)]

The Quebec government’s Nature Plan 2030, launched last year, seemed like a turning point: protecting nature was finally becoming a priority. Yet, incoherent decisions and a lack of political courage continue to weaken our biodiversity.

Misleading Arguments

Far too often, decision-makers authorize the destruction of natural areas—sometimes even bypassing laws and democratic processes to do so.

Why? In the name of the economy, public interest, the energy transition, or even waste management. Unfortunately, we forget that the prosperity of our societies depends on protecting nature, as confirmed by reports from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

No fine or compensation can make up for the loss of natural habitats. To protect a species, we must preserve ecosystems. And for the health of our population, we must also safeguard our natural spaces. Nature—our home—has no price.

Natural areas are still too often seen as secondary, as land to be exploited, which devalues the richness of biodiversity and nature’s contributions to society. But “green spaces” are not, by default, zones to be developed—they are assets to be protected. The better protected and interconnected these areas are, the greater their contribution to health and quality of life.

Nature Plan 2030: Empty Promises?

Nature Plan 2030, with its 14 targets, emphasizes the importance of protecting biodiversity. While some initiatives have made progress, without coherent action across all government decisions, the plan risks becoming an empty promise.

For example, Target 9 calls for strengthening the integration of biodiversity into government actions. Yet recent developments suggest otherwise...

Why adopt a Nature Plan if decision-makers lack the courage, vision, tools, and capacity to make decisions that truly consider biodiversity?

There Is Hope

Protecting biodiversity is not always easy, but deep change is underway. Communities, businesses, biologists, civil servants, municipalities, and schools are joining forces to put nature at the heart of their priorities—ensuring it’s done through a just transition that benefits everyone.

These groups understand that protecting nature today means ensuring prosperity and resilience tomorrow. Conversely, harming biodiversity puts our collective future at risk. Destroying nature will ultimately cost us far more than preserving it.

There can be no long-term economy or well-being without protecting our natural environments. Framing nature and the economy as opposing forces is a false debate. In reality, they are inseparable and must go hand in hand.

Our Message Is Clear:

To those reading this: Stay hopeful. More and more people, across all sectors, are fighting to protect nature. And with upcoming elections at all levels of government, you hold considerable power.

To all elected officials and decision-makers: We need your courage and your vision. This is not the time for excuses—it’s time to listen to science, to consider the will of the people, and to implement concrete, ambitious actions.

Signatories:

David Roy, Executive Director, Ateliers pour la biodiversité

Bernice Chabot-Giguère, Executive Director, Association des biologistes du Québec

Patricia Clermont, Coordinator, Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement (AQME)

Charles-Édouard Têtu, Climate and Energy Policy Analyst, Équiterre

Maxime Fortin Faubert, Ph.D., Visiting Researcher, David Suzuki Foundation

Anne-Josée Laquerre, Executive Director and Co-Initiator, Québec Net Positif

Leïla Cantave, Quebec Lead, Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-RAC)