Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques

What Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques does

The Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) is a provincial government ministry of Quebec, Canada, headquartered in Quebec City with 2,419 employees and 17 regional offices. It is the statutory authority for environmental protection, climate change mitigation, wildlife management, and parks administration under the Environment Quality Act and related legislation. Its mandate covers air quality management, water resource protection, biodiversity conservation, wildlife regulation, national parks, environmental impact assessment of development projects, and the operation of Quebec's cap-and-trade carbon market (SPEDE).

The Ministry operates a portfolio of digital regulatory services rather than an integrated commercial software platform. Core systems include the SPEDE carbon market (linked with California since 2014 and covering approximately 80% of Quebec's GHG emissions), the Registre des évaluations environnementales, the Registre des sanctions administratives pécuniaires, the Registre des condamnations, the Water Withdrawal Management Service (GPE), the voluntary lake monitoring network (RSVL), the Indice de la qualité de l'air, and the online hunting/fishing permit system (Mon Dossier chasse-pêche). Supporting expertise units include the Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec (CEAEQ) and Expertise hydrique et barrages (CEHQ).

As a public-sector entity, MELCCFP is funded through Quebec government appropriations rather than commercial revenue. Programmatic funding flows through the Green Fund, the Fonds d'électrification et de changements climatiques (FECC, capitalized by SPEDE auction revenues under the Plan pour une économie verte 2030), and the Blue Fund (Fonds bleu) supporting the Quebec Water Strategy 2018-2030 (~$500M CAD for 2023-2028). Revenue streams include SPEDE quarterly auctions, water levies ($35–$350 per million liters depending on use), and general tax appropriations. Customers are Quebec citizens, regulated industrial emitters (25,000+ tonnes CO2e), industrial water users, and municipalities — a publicly mandated constituency rather than a commercial book of business.

Name

Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques

Legal name

Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs

Website

https://environnement.gouv.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Quebec provincial ministry responsible for environmental protection, climate change mitigation, wildlife management, and parks, operating the SPEDE cap-and-trade carbon market (linked with California), environmental assessment registries, water withdrawal systems, and serving Quebec citizens, industrial emitters, and municipalities under statutory regulatory authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Regulation and Climate Policy

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAA

Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAMAH

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAMAG

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYAFAMAKAF

Timberland Compliance, Permitting & Regulatory Management

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Timberland Management Services

Keywords

• Environmental regulation services
• Carbon market cap-and-trade
• Water resource management
• Wildlife and parks administration
• Environmental impact assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec City

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Carbon Market Revenues (SPEDE): Revenue generated from quarterly auctions of emission units and direct sales of emission rights. All revenues are invested in the Fonds d'électrification et de changements climatiques (FECC) to finance government climate action through the Plan pour une économie verte 2030.
2. Water Usage Fees: Fees charged to industrial water users including bottled water production, mining, and manufacturing sectors. Rate of $35 per million liters for most activities, $150 per million liters for production incorporating water into products, and $350 additional per million liters for bottled water. Rates increase 3% annually.
3. Environmental Permits and Authorizations: Government funding from general taxation allocated to the Ministry for environmental protection, wildlife management, and climate action programs.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The ministry fundamentally delivers provincial environmental regulation, climate change mitigation, wildlife management, and parks oversight across Quebec. Its core services include operating the SPEDE cap-and-trade system linked with California, administering environmental impact assessments and permits, managing water withdrawal allocations, and issuing hunting and fishing licences via the Mon Dossier Chasse-Pêche online platform. It is funded primarily through government appropriations, supplemented by carbon market auction revenues and water usage fees.

Product overview

The Ministry operates a digital service platform providing government programs and registries related to environmental protection, climate change, wildlife, and parks. The portfolio includes the carbon market system (SPEDE) for emissions trading, the Quebec Water Strategy with the Blue Fund, environmental evaluation registries, sanctions and conviction registries, water withdrawal management services, lake monitoring networks, and online hunting/fishing permit services. These are standalone web-based government services rather than an integrated software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SPEDE Carbon Market System (Système de plafonnement et d'échange de droits d'émission) Quebec's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system that sets an annual emissions cap, allocates or auctions allowances, and requires covered industrial emitters to remit one allowance per tonne of CO2 equivalent emitted. The system is linked with California's cap-and-trade market and serves Quebec industrial emitters covered under the regulation.
• Quebec Water Strategy (Stratégie québécoise de l'eau) Provincial water management framework that includes water withdrawal permitting, protection of water resources, and ecosystem conservation, implemented through the GPE information system. The strategy is used by industrial water users and managed by the ministry for Quebec residents and businesses.
• Water Withdrawal Management Service (Gestion des prélèvements d'eau - GPE) Permitting and management service for industrial and commercial water withdrawals above regulatory thresholds, including application processing, fee assessment, and ongoing reporting via the GPE information system.
• Environmental Assessment Registry (Registre des évaluations environnementales) Public registry of environmental impact assessments and related authorisations for projects subject to Quebec environmental assessment requirements. Used by project proponents, consultants, and the public to access information on assessed projects.
• Administrative Monetary Penalties Registry (Registre des sanctions administratives pécuniaires) Public registry of administrative monetary penalties issued by the ministry under Quebec environmental legislation, providing transparency on enforcement actions against regulated entities.
• Criminal Convictions Registry (Registre des déclarations de culpabilité) Public registry of criminal convictions related to environmental offences prosecuted under Quebec environmental laws.
• Mon Dossier Chasse-Pêche Online portal that allows Quebec residents to obtain, manage, and renew their hunting and fishing licences and access related personal information. Used by individual licence holders and hunters/anglers in Quebec.
• Voluntary Lake Monitoring Network (Réseau de surveillance volontaire des lacs) Citizen-science program that allows Quebec residents to participate in voluntary monitoring of lake water quality, with results compiled for environmental assessment and public reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon market linked with California since 2014, creating the largest carbon market in North America
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Air Resources Board (CARB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Linked Quebec's SPEDE carbon market with California's system in 2014, creating the largest carbon market in North America. Joint management of emission allowances, quarterly joint auctions, and shared compliance tracking through the CITSS system.
• Western Climate Initiative, Inc. (WCI, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit organization that designs and implements carbon market programs. Quebec participates as a founding member, sharing best practices and market mechanisms with other North American jurisdictions.
• International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership focused on carbon pricing and emissions trading systems. Quebec participates in knowledge sharing and international carbon market development efforts.
• Carbon Pricing in the Americas (CPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration on carbon pricing mechanisms across the Americas, sharing experiences and best practices in carbon market design and implementation.
• Forum d'action sur l'eaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder consultation forum supporting government water management priorities. Includes representatives from municipalities (Union des municipalités du Québec), environmental organizations (Eau Secours, Fondation Rivières), industry groups (Conseil du patronat du Québec), research institutions (CentrEau, Réseau québécois sur les eaux souterraines), and various government ministries. Chaired by Agnès Grondin, Deputy Minister.
• Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent public hearings bureau that conducts public consultations and mediations on environmental assessment projects. The Ministry refers major projects to BAPE for public consultation as part of the environmental assessment process.
• Bureau du coroner / COMEX (Comité d'examen des répercussions sur l'environnement et le milieu social)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommittee responsible for environmental and social impact assessments in the James Bay region under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Works with the Ministry on projects in the Baie James territory.
• Commission de la qualité de l'environnement Kativik (CQEK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for environmental assessment procedures in Nunavik (Northern Quebec) under Chapter 23 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Partners with the Ministry on projects north of the 55th parallel.
• Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec (CEAEQ)coreTechnology or IntegrationExpertise center providing laboratory analysis and technical support for environmental testing and monitoring services to the Ministry.
• Expertise hydrique et barrages (CEHQ)coreTechnology or IntegrationExpertise center for hydrology and dams providing technical expertise, dam safety monitoring, and water resource assessment services to the Ministry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UK Environment Agency: The UK's principal environmental regulator responsible for flood/water management, pollution control, and waste regulation. Comparable as a multi-domain environmental regulator with significant enforcement, registry, and permitting functions.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada: The federal Canadian counterpart with overlapping jurisdiction over environmental assessment, climate change, water, wildlife, and pollution. Comparable in mandate breadth but operates nationally with greater resources and stricter federal statutes.
• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA): California's umbrella environmental agency overseeing boards and departments for air, water, waste, pesticides, and toxic substances. Comparable as a state-level environmental ministry with a broad, multi-domain mandate similar to Quebec's MELCCFP.
• Ministère de la Transition écologique (France): France's national ministry for ecological transition covering climate, water, biodiversity, and environmental regulation. Comparable in mandate scope and in operating carbon market mechanisms within a national/subnational federal-like structure.

Direct peers

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks: Ontario's provincial ministry with a near-identical mandate covering environment, conservation, and parks. It is the closest Canadian provincial peer given comparable size, scope across air/water/wildlife, and shared Great Lakes/St. Lawrence watershed concerns.
• BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy: British Columbia's provincial ministry responsible for environmental protection, climate action, and parks. Comparable in scope and carbon pricing experience (BC has its own carbon tax and was part of WCI), making it a strong Canadian provincial peer.
• California Air Resources Board (CARB): California's air and climate regulator that has operated a linked cap-and-trade program with Quebec's SPEDE since 2014. It is the most directly comparable peer given shared carbon market infrastructure (CITSS), joint auctions, and similar environmental regulatory mandate.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: New York's state environmental agency administering air, water, solid waste, mining, and fish/wildlife programs, plus participation in RGGI cap-and-trade. Comparable to MELCCFP in jurisdiction breadth and linkage to a multi-state carbon market.

Regional players

• Washington State Department of Ecology: Washington state's environmental agency covering air quality, water resources, and shoreline management, and participating in the Western Climate Initiative alongside Quebec. Comparable in sub-national scope and water/air regulatory focus.

Others

• Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (Quebec): Quebec's sister ministry responsible for forests, wildlife habitat, and parks (some responsibilities recently shifted from MELCCFP). Relevant as an adjacent ecosystem partner within the same provincial government that shares fauna/parks/forest regulatory boundaries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EnvironnementQc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/EnvironnementQuébec
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnvironnementQc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environnementqc
• Instagraminstagram.com/environnementqc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques