‘Those who were here before me didn’t meet their targets for 2020’: Legault

QUEBEC — Premier François Legault is fighting back against critics who say he’s not doing enough to counter climate change.

Responding to criticism from the opposition that he’s “climate inactive,” Legault said the accusation is ridiculous because he is well versed in the science, which he believes.

“Of course it doesn’t make sense to say things like that,” Legault told reporters in Montreal. “It’s clear that scientists are right.

“We’re all scared of what’s coming next with the climate and we have to fight against climate change. You see a government that will take action: invest more than ever in public transportation and have a plan to reduce emissions, like as promised by 2030.

“Unfortunately, those who were here before me didn’t meet their targets for 2020. I think what is important is action. I don’t see what I would have been able to change being in New York. It think it’s important to be here and take action and, of course, we believe in climate change.”

On Tuesday, interim Liberal leader Pierre Arcand criticized Legault, saying he has been “quite inactive” when it comes to climate policies and it shows with Legault’s decision to not attend Climate Week in New York, where activist Greta Thunberg spoke Monday.

Legault’s decision was a break from tradition on the part of Quebec premiers, but the government did send Environment Minister Benôit Charette.

“Mr. Legault needs to demonstrate he’s interested in environmental issues, which are very important,” Arcand told reporters.

“It was a duty of premiers to go in the past. It’s clear Mr. Legault missed a good chance. Mr. Legault is maybe not a climate skeptic, but he is climate inactive.