Jean-Philippe Martin鈥檚 journey, from a curious undergrad at 海角精品黑料鈥檚 Bieler School of Environment to a key figure at Hydro-Qu茅bec, reads like a roadmap for anyone wondering how to turn environmental passion into real-world impact.
鈥淚 started my undergrad in 2003,鈥� Martin recalls, back when interdisciplinary environmental studies were just beginning to take shape. That early exposure to a mix of biology, geography, and climate science laid the foundation for a career that would eventually bridge academia, consulting, and corporate strategy.
Earning his master鈥檚 and PhD at the Universit茅 de Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al, where he focused on geomorphology and geohazards, Martin dove into postdoctoral research on stream flow and snow avalanches鈥攏atural phenomena increasingly shaped by climate change. But it was in the consulting world, where he truly began to apply his knowledge. 鈥淚n 2018,鈥� he says, 鈥渢here were no standards in doing a climate change risk assessment, we started this business being three or four.鈥�
Within a few years, Martin helped grow the team to over 20 people, riding a wave of growing interest in climate resilience from governments and private investors alike. That momentum eventually led him to Hydro-Qu茅bec in 2021, where he now leads the company in climate change adaptation.
So what does that mean, exactly?
Central to his work is conducting climate change risk assessments for infrastructure projects, Martin explained. Whether it鈥檚 a power plant in northern Quebec or a transmission line in the south, His team evaluates how future climate hazards鈥攖hink floods, droughts, forest fires鈥攎ight impact operations. 鈥淲e facilitate engaged workshops with engineers looking at climate risk from a future climate perspective鈥�
Martin also plays a key role in updating Hydro-Qu茅bec鈥檚 climate change adaptation plan, one of the first of its kind among public corporations in Quebec. He collaborates with internal teams, leads workshops, and co-manages research projects with partners like the RENOS consortium. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot,鈥� he admits, 鈥淏ut we need to address it, because at the end of the day, we provide an essential service to the population.鈥�
Despite the technical nature of his work, Martin never loses sight of the human impact. He recalls the lessons learned from Hurricane Debby, when flooding in power station basements in Montr茅al caused widespread outages. 鈥淲e installed, more pumping capacity in those basements. After a recent similar storm, we had next to no basements flooded.鈥�
Martin鈥檚 passion for the environment isn鈥檛 confined to the office. He鈥檚 an avid outdoorsman and father of four, often found hiking or skiing with his family. 鈥淔rom amazement, you go all the way to action,鈥� he says paraphrasing Henry David Thoreau, and American naturalist and essayist, 鈥渏ust go take a walk in the woods first, and you鈥檒l engage in an ongoing connection with the natural world.鈥�
For young people considering a career in environmental science, Martin offers both realism and hope. 鈥淵es, there鈥檚 frustration鈥攆unding cuts, political inertia鈥攂ut action is empowering. Whether through your career or community involvement, you can make a difference.鈥�
And if you鈥檙e wondering whether one person can really change things, Martin鈥檚 story is proof that you can. Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time鈥攚ith the right mindset鈥攊s all it takes to help shape a more resilient future.