Premier Jean Charest says Quebec will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. (CBC)

Quebec Premier Jean Charest is painting himself as a world leader on climate change issues, announcing the province will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent from its 1990 levels by 2020.

Charest made the announcement Monday in Montreal, only weeks before he expects to take part in the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen.

The province’s targets are "the most ambitious in North America, and also one of the most ambitious in the world," Charest said.

On a per capita basis, it would reduce the province's emissions to eight tonnes. The province's previous target was to cut emissions to 11 tonnes per capita, twice the reduction target for Canada as a whole.

By comparison, Europe plans to reduce its emissions to nine tonnes per capita, Charest said.

The premier made the announcement before the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, which includes the CEO’s of some of Quebec’s biggest companies.

"We believe it is very important for us to lead on this issue because Quebec will live with the consequences of climate change more rapidly and more drastically than other jurisdictions because we are a northern province," Charest said. "Our children and grandchildren expect us to make the right decisions."

Federal government must do more

Charest also pressed the federal government to do more than its current plan to reduce its emissions by three per cent compared with 1990 levels.

He said addressing the issue of climate change also makes sense from an economic perspective.

"The other question that must be asked is what is the cost if we don't move on this issue," said Charest.

'We have a federal government that has now placed Canada as a renegade on the international scene'—Sidney Ribaux, Équiterre

The premier said Quebec would specifically aim to reduce its greenhouse gases in the area of transportation — which accounts for 40 per cent of the province’s emissions.

"That is an area where we need to move on — and we see the electric cars being part of that future, and using hydroelectricity as a source of energy in that area as being part of our future," Charest said

Charest says he will co-chair a meeting of provincial and state governments at the Copenhagen summit.

The head of Rio Tinto Alcan said Quebec businesses share the premier's vision that cutting greenhouse gas emissions isn't contradictory to economic development.

"Your task won't be easy but Quebec businesses are with you," Jacynthe Côté said after Charest spoke.

Sidney Ribaux, co-founder and co-ordinator of environmental group Équiterre, also welcomed Charest’s announcement. He said Quebec is on the right track.

"I hope that other provinces and other sectors of society will raise their voices in the coming weeks to put pressure on the Canadian government to change its position," said Ribaux.

He said the Harper government’s position on climate change is damaging the country’s reputation.

"We have a federal government that has now placed Canada as a renegade on the international scene."

The opposition Parti Québécois said Quebec should go even further by reducing its emissions by 25 per cent.