A thriving, green Québec

Built around a sustainable development framework, the Québec economy features some of the world's strictest environmental protection standards.

• 1,660 businesses.
• 34,300 jobs.
• $3.5 billion in total sales.
• $298 million in sales outside Canada, 80% of which are to the United States.

Note: 2004 figures.

Québec’s areas of expertise:

• water management: drinking water, municipal wastewater (especially for isolated dwellings) and industrial wastewater;
• waste management: waste sorting and handling equipment, processing, recovery and recycling;
• treatment of ambient air and air emissions;
• technology for reducing GHG emissions;
• energy efficiency;
• equipment for measuring and monitoring tailings;
• soil and groundwater treatment, rehabilitation of contaminated sites;
• life cycle analysis;
• processing of biomass (municipal sludge, paper mill sludge, manure, biogas) for use in energy and agronomic applications.

Recognized expertise in mining, aluminium smelting, agriculture, pulp and paper and hydroelectricity, which is key to exporting Québec know-how and technology on an international scale.

Numerous businesses involved in the carbon market and carbon credit initiatives projects.

The VAMOX® system developed by Biothermica is designed to safely destroy coal mine methane, even at low concentrations. The carbon credits generated as a result of its operations ensure funding for the project.

Enerkem’s integrated gasification and catalytic synthesis technology platform produces second-generation biofuels from various types of waste. For example, it can be used to convert 1 tonne of raw material (non-recycled solid waste or other refuse) into 360 litres of cellulosic ethanol, or enough fuel to travel 2,500 kilometres by car.

Ecoflo®, Segflo™, Rotofix®, Ecoprocess™ SBR and Ecoprocess™ MBR are technologies developed and marketed by Premier Tech Aqua (PTA) for the stand-alone, decentralized treatment of wastewater for residential, commercial, municipal and industrial markets. With more than 45,000 systems installed, PTA is incontrovertibly an industry leader.

A thriving, green Québec

The purpose of Québec’s environmental and green technology industry development strategy is to implement programs that will encourage various players to work together to achieve environmental goals and foster the growth of an industry aimed at developing Québec’s green assets.

Sustainable development

Québec has adopted both an act and a plan (French only) that address the issue of sustainable development. It therefore stands alongside a select few American states, Luxembourg and Belgium as one of only a handful of jurisdictions in the world to have passed legislation on sustainable development.

Research and development

Québec boasts the most competitive R&D tax incentives program in Canada and among the best in the industrialized world. These initiatives have helped promote excellence in the field of new environmental technology and assisted businesses in honing their performance and establishing their presence in emerging international markets.

Carbon market

With the creation of the Montréal Climate Exchange on the Montréal Exchange, Québec’s carbon market is growing. On January 1, 2012, Québec will roll out a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions in partnership with the Western Climate Initiative (WCI).

AMERICANA

The AMERICANA International Environmental Technology Trade Show and Conference organized by RÉSEAU environnement, Québec’s largest environment industry association, will hold its 10th conference in Montréal in March 2013. AMERICANA is a forum for the exchange of knowledge and practical experience designed to promote environmental and economic solutions.

Écotech Québec

Écotech Québec is Québec’s cleantech cluster, dedicated to uniting and mobilizing the cleantech industry around six priority themes:

• Innovation
• Regulatory/tax frameworks
• Funding
• Marketing
• Labour
• Outreach

For a Green and prosperous Québec

• Directory of Québec environment companies – 2012
• Bioenergy: Québec’s renewable resources for green and sustainable energy
• Ecomobility: Québec on the cutting edge of sustainable mobility
• Environmental know-how with international reach
• InnovatIve equipment for collectIng and sortIng material
• Québec engineering services: The energy at the core of Québec’s development
• Specialized expertise in industrial air treatment, biogas and odour management
• Soil treatment and Site restoration
• Water in Québec, a Source of Wealth