The Parti Québécois is lashing out at Quebec Premier Jean Charest, accusing the Liberal leader of failing to represent the province at the critical UN climate talks in Copenhagen last week.

PQ environment critic Scott McKay said despite Charest's vocal criticism of the federal government in the press, he was reticent with delegates from other nations.

"At least we would have expected the premier of Quebec to take a strong stance against [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper in front of international delegates," McKay told The Canadian Press on the weekend.

At the Copenhagen climate summit, Quebec and Ontario criticized other provinces over pollution caused by the development of the oilsands.

Charest and Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen said they refuse to let their provinces carry the load for bigger polluters, like Alberta and Saskatchewan, when it comes to meeting emissions goals.

Both provinces have already committed to deeper emissions cuts than the federal government.

"Climate change has become a new constitutional hot spot between Quebec and Ottawa," said McKay, who believes the issue might drive a wedge between central Canadian provinces and western Canada.

He sees the PQ as being able to step in and use the issue to promote Quebec sovereignty.

"The rupture is so profound," he said. "And there are very strong political views."

Quebec ecologists pan accord

Quebec environmental groups had little praise for the climate change accord reached in Copenhagen.

"I don't think that any political leader can really brag about this accord," said Sidney Ribaux, co-founder of Quebec environment group Équiterre. "Prime Minister Harper was nowhere to be seen during these negotiations. Canada played a very unconstructive role."

The climate change accord offers funding to developing nations to help them implement measures to fight global warming.

The agreement has no specific targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

In a statement released on the weekend, the Quebec Federation of Labour said Canada has failed on the world stage, leaving other countries with the impression it is controlled by the oil industry.

With files from the Canadian Press