The City of Montreal has committed to going carbon neutral by 2050, in an effort to slow climate change.

Lower-scale Advancements towards carbon neutrality are already happening in Montreal.

Researchers at Concordia have been developing windows made of solar panels with the goal of achieving a net zero building – so a building that powers its electricity through solar energy implemented in its own structure. Entire schools have also become carbon neurtal.
 
Outside of Montreal, in Quebec, the University of Sherbrooke has also become carbon neutral this past June – 8 years ahead of schedule. Dawson College, and English Cégep in downtown Montreal has been carbon neutral since 2019.

Chris Adam, the Coordinator of Sustainable Dawson's projects and Jennifer de Vera, in charge of Program Development at Sustainable Dawson spoke to Local 514 about carbon neutrality and how Dawson became carbon neutral.

Adam said carbon neutrality is reducing our carbon footprint with intent of offsetting carbon by providing more natural carbon sinks. Carbon sinks can be oceans or forests, as Adam said planting trees is a form of offsetting carbon. 

Efforts at Concordia, Dawson, Sherbrooke show that we can start carbon neutrality in our own communities, instead of waiting for politicians to take climate action.

De Vera said it's intimidating to think about stopping climate change is having to change the whole world – you can just change your community. Initiatives in one's community can lead to collective effort in improving our environment.

What challenges do we face in achieving carbon neutrality?

Adam said the four year political cycle can prevent this from being a sustainable decision, as our current municipal government may or may not be re-elected – the next municipal government can overturn this commitment.