Quebec Premier Jean Charest turned the heat on Prime Minister Steven Harper at the UN climate conference in Cancun.

After accepting an environmental award from the district of South Australia for his work to cut Quebec's greenhouse has emissions, Charest criticized Ottawa for refusing to extend the Kyoto protocol.

"We want to lead by example. It's regrettable that the federal government does not," Charest reportedly told a Cancun press conference.

"The federal government must do more than simply copy the American position."

Environment Minister John Baird has said Canada won't sign a deal unless the U.S. and other major polluters do so.

Charest also challenged Harper's Conservatives to make climate change an issue in the next federal election campaign.

"I hope it's debated during the federal election and that it's debated correctly," Charest is reported to have said. "Not just through the prism of economic growth, or of statistics and track records -- but about quality of life, of improving the health of our citizens."

The South Australian government said its International Climate Change Leadership Award is given to leaders who have made a "genuine commitment" to combating climate change.

South Australia Premier Mike Rann cited Charest's 2006 pledge to cut Quebec greenhouse gas emissions to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. Rann also said his government will name part of a forest in Charest's honour.

Quebec is the rare Canadian province that has already lowered its greenhouse gas emissions -- to an estimated 1.2 per cent below 1990 levels.

Monte Paulsen reports on carbon shift for The Tyee.