24 février 2025
Urbi-GES: an innovative approach to promote social acceptability of climate measures within the population
Today, Université Laval (UL), the City of Québec and the RCM of Rimouski-Neigette unveiled the main workstreams of the Urbi-GES project, a vast participatory action research initiative conducted in partnership with Votepour.ca and Futur simple, the project's co-sponsors.
— Yan Doublet
The project aims to gain a better understanding of the determinants of climate action at local level, to develop tools to support citizens in their transition to more low-carbon behaviours, and to support municipalities and RCMs in the development of their local climate plans.
“This innovative research project puts science directly at the service of those working in the field. I salute the leadership of Professor Stéphane Roche, Director of the Institute for Environment, Development and Society (EDS), who has rallied several partners around a common ambition: to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change by focusing on a better understanding of human behavior,” comments Sophie D'Amours, Rector of Université Laval.
In 2022, this project received financial support of $3.7 million over 5 years from the Climate Action and Awareness Fund, part of the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund. The Urbi-GES project puts social solutions at the heart of the fight against climate change. Its aim is to promote the social acceptability of the climate measures put forward by municipalities. By being the first to join the project, the City of Québec and the RCM of Rimousk-Neigette are demonstrating their leadership in local climate action.
“We know that scientific evidence and collaboration between researchers and civil society organizations are all promising ways of accelerating the climate transition. Urbi-GES is a concrete example of the kind of innovative approach we need, drawing on the expertise of Université Laval and the commitment of municipal and community partners.” says Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Québec and Minister of Public Services and Procurement of Canada.
An action research approach unique in Québec and Canada
This fall, some 1,000 Québec City residents were contacted by the Baromètre de l’action climatique team, led by UL Marketing Department assistant professor Valériane Champagne St-Arnaud. Their goal was to survey the perceptions, opinions and behaviours of its citizens with regard to climate change and measures to address it. Inspired by the barometer’s approach, Votepour.ca also consulted nearly 600 people in the RCM of Rimouski-Neigette.
Highlights of surveys conducted on the UL campus, in Québec City and in the RCM of Rimouski-Neigette:
A majority of respondents feel that their actions have a concrete impact in the fight against climate change: 58% of respondents to the UL barometer, 67% of those in Québec City, and 75% of respondents to the consultation conducted by Votepour.ca in the Rimouski-Neigette RCM (unweighted sample).
Many respondents to the UL and Ville de Québec barometers reported environmentally-friendly behaviors (e.g., recycling, choosing reusable products, etc.), but the actions with the greatest impact on their climate footprint (e.g., reducing car use, limiting air travel, eating less meat and composting) remained at the bottom of the list.
63% of respondents to the Québec City barometer would like to see municipalities and RCMs step up their actions in the fight against the climate crisis.
The Urbi-GES project will link this information on the levers and barriers to climate action observed in communities by mapping the urban environment of each participating municipality. This will identify the components, such as infrastructure and public or community services, that encourage citizens to adopt more low-carbon behaviours.
“We're proud to be among the first cities involved in this innovative approach, and we hope this initiative will inspire other municipalities across Quebec and Canada,” says Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City.
“The Urbi-GES project represents an invaluable opportunity for our territory, as it provides us with tools on climate transition measures for our territory, while taking into account the capacity for action of municipalities and RCMs and the real needs of their populations,” adds Robert Savoie, deputy prefect of the RCM of Rimouski-Neigette and mayor of Saint-Valérien.
Simultaneously, Votepour.ca and Futur Simple will be carrying out a variety of consultation, mobilization and communication activities in the field, in order to engage in direct discussions with citizens about possible climate measures for their community, and to support them in their daily transition to climate action.
Ultimately, the knowledge and tools produced by the Urbi-GES project will enable Quebec and Canadian municipalities to support the development of climate plans that better reflect their social and territorial realities, maximizing their potential for success through measures likely to generate the support of their populations.
Contribution of the project's co-sponsors
Futur Simple is a non-profit cooperative and registered charity whose mission is to contribute to the individual, organizational and collective appropriation of climate and environmental action by activating the human factor. As part of Urbi-GES, Futur Simple deploys its expertise in behaviour change and climate communications to help citizens adopt more low-carbon actions.
Votepour.ca carries out citizen awareness, consultation and participation activities at the request of municipalities, public and local organizations, and citizen groups, with the aim of better guiding the development of local projects and fostering their social acceptability. As part of Urbi-GES, Votefor.ca is deploying a project dedicated to the social acceptability of climate measures. The aim is to develop a directory of climate actions by documenting the factors that influence their social acceptability. Ultimately, the project aims to equip and support professionals in the implementation of certain climate measures to promote their harmonious integration into regional development.
About Université Laval
About Institut en Environnement, Développement et Société (EDS)
About Votepour.ca
About Futur Simple
Source :
Direction des communications
Université Laval
418 656-3355
medias@ulaval.ca
Votepour.ca
Marc Jeannotte
Co-fondateur et directeur général
marc@votepour.ca
(418) 573-4244
Futur Simple
Philippe Poitras
Co-fondateur, Développement stratégique
ppoitras@futur-simple.ca
(514) 886-4570
