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STATES OF JERSEY
ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLIMATE COUNCIL
Lodged au Greffe on 22nd December 2022 by the Minister for the Environment Earliest date for debate: 7th February 2022
STATES GREFFE
2022 P.117
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion −
In accordance with the amendment made by the Environment Housing & Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel to the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, agreed on 29 April 2022, to approve the establishment of a Climate Council for Jersey with terms of reference and membership as set out in the Report.
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
REPORT
Background
The Carbon Neutral Roadmap, was agreed by the States Assembly on 29 April 2022.
An amendment calling for the creation of a Climate Council, was brought forward by the previous Environment Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel - (Carbon Neutral Roadmap (P.74/2022): amendment). This amendment was subsequently amended by the Minister for the Environment, changing the frequency of the report produced by the Council to a report at the end of every four-year delivery phase for the term of the Roadmap (P.74/2022 AMD) - Amendment.
The agreed Carbon Neutral Roadmap requests that the Minister for the Environment or the Assistant Minister for the Environment (Minister for Energy and Climate Change) establishes an independent, scientific Climate Council for Jersey with a composition, scope and focus that is proportionate to Jersey’s size, the full terms of reference and membership of which should be agreed by the States following a detailed proposal brought forward by the Minister before the end of 2022.
Governance and reporting on the Carbon Neutral Roadmap
Expenditure from the Climate Emergency Fund was agreed by the States Assembly in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap and confirmed in subsequent Government Plans.
The Minister for the Environment has delegated responsibility for policies relating to the Climate Emergency Fund to the Assistant Minister for the Environment (Minister for Energy and Climate Change).
Responsibility for the governance of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap and delivery of its policies rests with officers within the operational departments and is overseen by the Carbon Neutral Programme Board and Sponsoring Group. Reporting on all the policies is completed on a monthly basis through the Perform platform and this includes policy specific KPIs.
The Key Performance Indicator for the success of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap is the Island’s annual greenhouse gas inventory. As part of the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory Programme, a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Jersey is produced annually. This independently calculated and verified inventory provides estimates for historical emissions of greenhouse gases from 1990. This dataset is publicly available via open data.
Jersey is a signatory, through the UK, to the Paris Agreement and the International Convention on Climate Change. The Island’s success in meeting our carbon emissions reduction targets is reported annually via our greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
Terms of reference for the Climate Council
The Terms of Reference of the Climate Council have been considered to ensure that they are proportional to the size of the Island and to maintain maximum efficiency and minimum overheads.
The role of the Climate Council
The role of a Climate Council is to report on Jersey’s progress on both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and on the Government of Jersey’s delivering the Carbon Neutral Roadmap climate change policy initiatives at the end of each term of government, to provide accountability and continuity of ambition across successive States Assemblies.
In preparing the 4-yearly report, the work of the Climate Council may include:
• Providing independent science-based advice on setting and meeting carbon budgets and preparing for climate change.
• Monitoring progress in reducing emissions and achieving carbon budgets and targets and recommending actions to keep Jersey on track.
• Conducting independent analysis into climate change science, economics and policy where such information cannot be transposed from other peer reviewed scientific research or analysis.
• Engaging with a wide range of organisations and individuals to share evidence and analysis.
Frequency of meetings
At the end of every 4-year delivery phase of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, the Climate Council will independently report on and evaluate Government of Jersey’s progress on reducing the island’s carbon emissions and the climate change policy initiatives being delivered by the Carbon Neutral Roadmap.
The first 4-yearly report from the Climate Council will need to be signed off and presented to the States Assembly by the end of Q1 2026.
The recruitment and appointment of Climate Council members will take place in Q1 2025 with the first meeting therefore anticipated in Q2 2025.
Following publication of their first report in Q1 2026, the Climate Council will then not reconvene until Q2 2029, with their second report to be presented to the States Assembly by the end of Q1 2030.
Membership
The Council will consist of 5 members, including a Chair to be chosen by the membership.
Membership of the Council shall not include members of the States.
The membership must cover expertise in the fields of:
• Energy
• Economics
• Climate Technology
• Income inequality and just transition issues.
At least one member must be a full-time Jersey resident.
Roles will be advertised in local media and through appropriate professional networks and professional bodies.
Interested individuals will be required to demonstrate their expertise in the given area or areas and their suitability as part of the application and recruitment process.
Council membership is to be appointed through a joint decision from the Assistant Minister for the Environment (Minister for Energy and Climate Change) and the EHI Scrutiny Panel Chair.
Due the level of expertise required of the Council members it is not felt that these could be voluntary roles. Fixed rates for Council members will be agreed in advance of their appointment.
The expectation of time commitment required will be made clear upfront so that costs can be accurately forecast.
It is anticipated that the input to and sign off of the report once every 4 years will require each of the 5 council members to dedicate 5 full days of their time.
Secretariat
It is intended that the Climate Council is independent from Government and therefore secretariat support for it will be provided externally. Officers in SPPP will work with EHI Scrutiny Panel and the Greffier to agree how best to provide this independent support.
Review
The Terms of Reference for the Climate Council will be reviewed every 4 years. Financial and manpower implications
It is anticipated that a part-time role will be needed to support the Council in preparing their 4-yearly report and support will be needed for the 6-month period prior to the publication of each report.
The high-level costs for the Council are estimated to be between £40k-£60k, incurred every four years.
This estimation includes:
• Payment to Climate Council members (restricted to 5 days per council member)
• A part-time member of staff to assist with the preparation of the 4-yearly report for a 6-month period prior to publication
• Other costs, for example stakeholder engagement, travel / accommodation for council members etc.
Note that any required commissioned research would be a cost over and above this estimated amount.
Funding will not be required until 2025.
The Carbon Neutral Roadmap has not currently allocated money from the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) for this.
It is proposed that Council costs for the 2026 report will be covered via a reallocation of the CEF (subject to SP3 the long-term Financing Strategy of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap being agreed). A decision on how best to reallocate the CEF will be made prior to Council recruitment in 2025.
Future funding options for the Climate Council will be considered as part of the long- term financing strategy for the Carbon Neutral Roadmap and Climate Emergency Fund for 2026 onwards.