2024
Adoption of Bill 41 - Loi édictant la Loi sur la performance environnementale des bâtiments et modifiant diverses dispositions en matière de transition énergétique.
Ongoing
Natural gas in Quebec
To make it clear that natural gas has no place in the energy transition.
Équiterre has been working to set the record straight on the devastating impacts of "natural" gas - both its consumption and the development of gas-related infrastructure in Quebec.
The challenge
95%
Natural gas is a fossil fuel consisting of 95% methane, a gas with a global warming potential that is 84 times higher than CO2.
So-called "natural" gas has been wrongly considered an option to transition away from other fossil fuels that emit much more CO2, such as coal. For nearly 10 years, scientific studies have clearly demonstrated that natural gas is not in line with a rapid and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Natural gas is a fossil fuel consisting of 95% methane, a gas with a global warming potential that is 80 times higher than CO2 over a 20-year horizon. Natural gas causes considerable climate and environmental damage, not only when it is being used, but also during the production and transportation phases, with a high potential for leaks.
Natural gas is no more or less natural than oil; it's a non-renewable fossil fuel. We therefore call it "fossil gas," a term that is closer to reality.
We need to debunk the myths surrounding "natural gas" and we must reduce its social acceptability, clearly demonstrating how it doesn't help the energy transition or the fight against climate change.
“ Fossil gas is not a transition fuel. ”
Équiterre's work
Équiterre has been campaigning for several years, along with other environmental and citizen-based organizations, against fossil gas (natural gas) on three levels: production, transportation and consumption
We have been communicating and documenting the true environmental impacts of fossil gas and the perverse effects of its use on global and local energy trends.
One concrete example of which we are very proud is our fierce opposition and the success of the movement against the GNL Québec natural gas project, which threatened the climate, our ecosystems and our health.
Objectives
- Ensure that so-called “natural" gas is not identified by political authorities as a transition fuel and act as a watchdog to prevent manipulation by the industry;
- Encourage the Quebec and municipal governments to move away from fossil gas for both industrial use and private use;
- Encourage legislation to prohibit the expansion of the gas network in Quebec and ban fossil gas from use in all new construction.
Project history
2022
April
Launch of the Sortons le gaz! coalition
The coalition brings together environmental, labour and citizen organizations with a goal to promote energy conservation and efficiency in the building sector while accelerating the transition of Quebec buildings to 100% renewable energy sources. It works to raise awareness on the impacts of natural gas on our health and our environment, to promote the advantages of replacing it and to publicize the ways of doing so by informing the public and decision-makers at all levels.
End of all hydrocarbon exploration and development activities in Quebec
Victory: Quebec adopts the law that puts an end to hydrocarbon exploration and production - a world first!
2021
The end of GNL Québec!
The Quebec government categorically rejects the planned GNL Québec liquefied natural gas plant in the Saguenay following broad local and national mobilization.
2019
Consultations on Quebec's Electrification and Climate Change Plan
Équiterre reiterates its call for a ban on the construction or expansion of any infrastructure in Quebec that would increase the exploration, production, transportation, distribution or consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.
2018
Équiterre highlights disturbing flaws in pipeline safety in Canada.
2016
Équiterre participates in public consultations on the strategic environmental assessment of fossil fuels in Quebec
We call for an end to all fossil fuel development in Quebec, including any projects on Anticosti Island.
2010-2014
The gas industry has its eye on shale gas in Quebec
Équiterre calls for a moratorium on the exploration and exploitation of shale gas in Quebec and demonstrates that developing this industry is likely to compromise the government's climate change goals.
Related content
FAQ
What is the purpose of the “Sortons le gaz” campaign?
The campaign addresses the myths spread by the gas industry, highlighting the health, environmental and financial risks of having natural gas in our homes and workplaces. It also proposes safer and more environmentally responsible alternatives.
The campaign aims to support municipalities towards decarbonizing their buildings. It seeks to put pressure on the Quebec government to regulate to prohibit the connection of any new buildings to the gas network, as well as the renewal of existing equipment running on this fossil fuel.
It is a joint campaign with social, labour and environmental organizations. Please visit the microsite at Sortonslegaz.com for more information.
Is the natural gas distributed in Quebec a fossil fuel?
Renewable natural gas (RNG) represents about 1% of the volume in Energir's system and fossil natural gas represents about 99%. A regulation requires that the proportion of "gas from renewable sources" injected into the gas network reach 2% in 2023, 5% in 2025 and 10% in 2030. According to this regulation, 90% of natural gas consumed in 2030 will still be fossil gas, for needs that could, for the most part, be met by electricity.
How does natural gas contribute to global warming?
Natural gas contributes to global warming in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned (as do gasoline, fuel oil and diesel), but also as it escapes into the atmosphere as fugitive methane (CH4) emissions at all stages of its extraction, transportation, distribution, processing and combustion, as well as after the wells are shut in.
Even a low rate of fugitive emissions makes natural gas as damaging as and even more damaging than oil or coal because the global warming power of methane is 80 times that of CO2 over 20 years. In recent years, much research has shown that the fugitive emission rates reported by industry and accounted for by governments are grossly underestimated.
Why rush to get natural gas out of buildings?
In 2020, natural gas supplied 15% of the energy consumed by buildings and was responsible for 63% of the GHGs emitted by the buildings sector (5 Mt of GHGs, or 7% of Quebec's total GHG emissions, or the equivalent of what 1.6 million cars emit/year).
Reducing Quebec's total GHG emissions by 7% and achieving the complete decarbonization of heating and cooking in buildings would be possible if we prohibit the installation of gas-fired equipment in addition to withdrawing oil-fired equipment - the latter is already happening based on theRèglement sur les appareils de chauffage au mazout enacted in November 2021.
What do you think of Energir's decision to connect all new connections to renewable natural gas (RNG)?
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is composed mainly of methane, just like conventional natural gas. They have the same health issues for customers and users.
Because of its high price and scarcity, renewable natural gas (RNG) should be reserved for uses that cannot be electrified, such as many industrial uses.
The heating of buildings does not need fuel since it can be electrified, with a much higher efficiency than natural gas appliances, while offering the possibility of air conditioning and managing the increasing power demand.
