{"id":3591,"date":"2026-08-06T17:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ccgclimat.com\/en\/?p=3591"},"modified":"2026-09-22T21:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T21:05:17","slug":"the-climate-test-integrating-climate-objectives-into-municipal-decision-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ccgclimat.com\/en\/2026\/08\/06\/the-climate-test-integrating-climate-objectives-into-municipal-decision-making\/","title":{"rendered":"The Climate Test: Integrating Climate Objectives into Municipal Decision-Making"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Many regional county municipalities in Quebec now have a climate plan<\/a> setting out their greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change adaptation objectives. The next challenge is to ensure that these priorities genuinely influence the projects, investments, and decisions made across all municipal departments.<\/p>

A climate plan identifies the destination. The Climate Test helps teams stay on course when designing projects and making trade-offs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Decision-Support Tool, Not an Approval Mechanism<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Climate Test is a tool used to assess whether a project, policy, or decision is consistent with a municipality\u2019s climate objectives.<\/p>

It may take the form of a questionnaire completed by project leads to examine two complementary dimensions: the project\u2019s contribution to reducing GHG emissions and its ability to strengthen the territory\u2019s resilience to climate hazards such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, flooding, and ice storms.<\/p>

The objective is not to replace professional judgment or automatically determine whether a project should be approved or rejected. Instead, the Climate Test helps structure the analysis, identify risks and opportunities for improvement, and mobilize internal expertise while there is still time to influence the project.<\/p>

This approach allows municipalities to move from considering climate issues on an occasional basis to integrating them more systematically into municipal practices. As explained in an article published by M\u00e9tropolitiques<\/em><\/a>, Climate Tests can serve different purposes, ranging from the initial assessment of a project to supporting its design and facilitating accountability. Their format and criteria remain flexible and depend on the objectives pursued by each organization.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Experience Developed with the City of Qu\u00e9bec<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From October 2022 to April 2023, CCG supported the City of Qu\u00e9bec in designing and implementing its Climate Test.<\/p>

Designed as an operational tool, it was developed to fit within existing municipal processes and to be used at different stages of the project life cycle. The answers provided by project leads make it possible to obtain an overall assessment of a project\u2019s climate footprint and level of resilience.<\/p>

The Climate Test focuses on analyzing tangible impacts on the territory and its population. Depending on the nature of the project, it may, for example, lead teams to examine a building\u2019s energy efficiency, stormwater management, protection from extreme heat, sustainable mobility, soil sealing, or vegetation conservation.<\/p>

One of the main benefits of this approach is that it enables climate considerations to be addressed early enough in the process. When climate issues are raised only once plans are nearly complete, opportunities for adjustment are often limited or costly. When integrated from the design stage, however, they can guide technical, financial, and functional decisions.<\/p>

This mandate illustrates CCG\u2019s ability to translate broad climate objectives into practical tools adapted to the organizational realities of public administrations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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From a Questionnaire to Change Management<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The City of Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s experience also shows that a Climate Test cannot rely solely on a questionnaire. To create lasting changes in practices, it must be supported by a process that helps teams understand and adopt the approach.<\/p>

Under the leadership of Hubert Pelletier Picard, Project Manager at the City, the Climate Test evolved from an assessment tool into a genuine change management initiative. This includes training modules designed to develop a climate-oriented mindset, opportunities for discussion between professionals and experts, and support to facilitate informed decision-making.<\/p>

The City also moved away from an approach primarily based on scoring. A score may create an impression of precision, but it can reduce a complex decision to an overly simplified result. A more qualitative approach instead makes it possible to understand a project\u2019s strengths and limitations, document trade-offs, and identify possible adjustments.<\/p>

The Climate Test therefore becomes a tool for discussion and project improvement rather than an additional administrative formality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Flexible Tool Adapted to Municipal Needs<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There is no single model for a Climate Test. Its scope must be adapted to the context, objectives, and organizational capacity of each municipality.<\/p>

The tool may be adjusted according to:<\/p>