Carbon Neutral Roadmap (P.74/2022): second amendment [P.74-2022 Amd.(2)]

STATES OF JERSEY

CARBON NEUTRAL ROADMAP (P.74/2022): SECOND AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 8th April 2022 by Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier Earliest date for debate: 25th April 2022

STATES GREFFE

2022  P.74 Amd.(2)(re-issue)

CARBON NEUTRAL ROADMAP (P.74/2022): SECOND AMENDMENT ____________

PAGE 2, PARARAPH (a) –

After the words "report accompanying the proposition" insert the words ", except that, within the Carbon Neutral Roadmap as set out in the Appendix –

1. on page 76, in the row relating to TR1, the figure "£6,255,000" should be replaced with the figure "£4,855,000"; and the words "1,600 electric vehicle incentives" replaced with "1,200 electric vehicle incentives";
2. on page 77, in the row relating to TR10, the figure "£300,000" should be replaced with the figure "£1,700,000";
3. on page 87, in the row relating to TR1, in the "deliverables" column, the figure "1,600" should be replaced with "1,200", and, in the 4-year budget column, the figure "£5,734,000" should be replaced with "£4,334,000"; and
4. on page 88, in the row relating to TR10, in the "deliverables" column, the word "n/a" should be replaced with "provide strong start on the active travel items detailed in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap", and, in the 4-year budget  column,  the  words  "£300,000"  should  be  replaced  with "£1,700,000".

PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

After paragraph (b), insert a new paragraph (c) as follows –

"(c)  that the Carbon Neutral Roadmap should be further amended in such

respects  as  may  be  necessary  consequent  upon  the  adoption  of paragraph (a)."

DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to refer to their Act dated 2nd May 2019, in which they agreed that there existed a climate emergency likely to have profound effects in Jersey and, in order to respond to the climate emergency, to approve the Carbon Neutral Roadmap for Jersey as set out in the Appendix to the report accompanying the proposition, except that, within the Carbon Neutral Roadmap as set outin the Appendix –

1. on page 76, in the row relating to TR1, the figure "£6,255,000" should be replaced with the figure "£4,855,000"; and the words "1,600 electric vehicle incentives" replaced with "1,200 electric vehicle incentives";
2. on page 77, in the row relating to TR10, the figure "£300,000" should be replaced with the figure "£1,700,000";
3. on page 87, in the row relating to TR1, in the "deliverables2 column, the figure "1,600" should be replaced with "1,200", and, in the 4-year budget column, the figure "£5,734,000" should be replaced with "£4,334,000"; and
4. on page 88, in the row relating to TR10, in the "deliverables" column, the word "n/a" should be replaced with "provide strong start on the active travel items detailed in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap", and, in the 4-year budget  column,  the  words  "£300,000"  should  be  replaced  with "£1,700,000".

2. to recommend that, at the start of the next Assembly, the Chief Minister considers creating a new ministerial portfolio for Energy and Climate Change.
3. that the Carbon Neutral Roadmap should be further amended in such respects  as  may  be  necessary  consequent  upon  the  adoption  ofparagraph (a).

REPORT

This amendment will move a proportion of spend in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap from the subsidy of electric cars to active transport improvements.

The current plan provides £5,734,000 from the subsidy of electric cars of £3,500 per car below a cost price of £30,000. It then provides just £300,000 for active transport initiatives and infrastructure. This is the area of walking and cycling.

By reallocating £1.4 million of the spend on electric car subsidises to active transport, this will enable many more initiatives, developments and projects to be implemented. There is a strong argument that this gives greater impact for monies spent in terms of cultural change to methods of transport and the subsequent health and environmental benefits.

This  amendment  does  not  change  the  provision  for  building  electric  vehicle infrastructure or the subsidy for Biofuels as a transition fuel. It only changes the level of electric car buying subsidy.

One concern about the balance of spend on these two areas is the inequitable provision of walking and cycling support.

The amendments above are aimed at re-allocating funding away from private vehicle use subsidies and into active travel to support long-term behaviour change in favour of increasingly necessary low carbon lifestyles.

The Carbon Neutral Roadmap, as presented to the States Assembly, places too much emphasis on the funding of the decarbonisation of the vehicle fleet, at the expense of active travel policies which have proven in other jurisdictions to deliver better value and higher impact on a pound-for-pound basis.

Indeed,  as  proposed,  the  Carbon  Neutral  Roadmap  allocates  over  £9,400,000  to subsidising  the  ongoing  dominance  of  private  vehicles  on  Jersey's  roads.  These amendments would re-allocate £1,400,000 away from EV purchase subsidies (which do nothing  to  alleviate  wider  growing  issues  such  as  congestion  and  public  health challenges), towards kickstarting longer-term active travel initiatives by allocating an upfront sum of money which is not dependent on the next Government Plan.

Whilst it is acknowledged that the decarbonisation of the vehicle fleet by increased adoption of EVs needs to form part of Jersey's carbon neutral journey, in isolation the overemphasis of this objective does nothing to address a range of issues including:

- congestion

- pressure on land use (with each car estimated to require 6 spaces for parking along, or over 70 m2 - roughly the size of a 2-bedroom property)

- sedentary lifestyles

- social injustice associate with car ownership

- fine particle pollution

- environmental  concerns  associated  with  the  supply  chain  for  vehicle manufacture

What's more, the objectives set out in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap rely on hopelessly optimistic projections as to the uptake of EVs. As highlighted by several respondents to the recent consultation, including the Jersey Motor Trades Federation, the objective of 34% of cars beings EVs within 3 years would require around 14,000 new vehicles to be imported into Jersey each year, when the average number has typically hovered around 6,000. Even with the use of purchase subsidies, it seems very unlikely that the necessary level of EV purchase will be achieved, particularly in a period of shrinking spending power for Jersey households.

One the main barriers to the uptake of active travel modes such as cycling is volume of traffic  on  the  roads,  leading  a  perception  of  unsafety.  A  policy  which  therefore perpetuates the existing culture of car dominance is therefore likely to undermine longer term objectives to get people travelling in other ways. Ultimately this will make carbon neutrality more expensive.

As a result, the policy of allocating such a disproportionate amount of the Climate Emergency Fund to subsidising the purchase of EVs is misguided and destined to fail.

Towards a more balanced approach to movement of people in Jersey

In order achieve the objective of carbon neutrality by 2030, what is required is a more balanced approach, that allocates funding to a range of policies that support behaviour change - in particular, by facilitating a transition to more active green travel.

The amendments proposed above would allocate an additional £1,400,000 to active travel policies, on top of the (inadequate) sum of £300,000 currently proposed.

That additional funding could support a range of actions, that would have a much- needed impact in reducing carbon emissions associate with transport - thus achieving the objectives of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap in a more cost-effective manner. Such actions, aligned with the Sustainable Transport Policy, could include:

- Additional funding for Bikeability across all schools, such that this forms part of the curriculum to equip young people with the skills and confidence to support a healthy low-carbon future (aligning with the wider Government common strategic priority of "putting children first")

- Extending the successful "Love to Ride" scheme operated in previous years that helps to drive a significant uptake and acceptance of cycling - which supports an active travel culture in line with the common strategic policy of "improving Islanders mental and physical health"

- Improving the Island-wide cycle network, reducing friction between road users and improving access for all Islanders to low-cost, safe active travel solutions. This supports the wider common strategic policies such as "reducing income inequality"

- Implementing a Cycle to Work scheme, modelled on other successful national schemes in places such as the UK, which provide both employer and employee with a fiscal incentive to purchase a bicycle, carg0 bike or adapted cycle, for commuting purposes

- Free, safe bike storage facilities in line with the Minister's response to the Climate Assembly recommendations

Financial and manpower implications

There are no extra costs beyond those allocated.

Child Rights Impact Assessment STAGE 1: SCREENING

If the CRIA relates to a Proposition and a full child rights impact assessment is required proceed to stage 2 (Proposition)

If the CRIA relates to an Amendment and a child rights impact assessment is required proceed to stage 2 (Amendment)

STAGE 2 (Amendment):

In the ongoing wake of Covid-19 it is now, more than ever, important that we take actions that will improve the health and the standards of living for our children and young people.

See below in 7c for various findings in relation to mental and physical health in children and young people.

This Amendment moves funding from electric car subsidies to sustainable transport. Sustainable transport will have longer term benefits for the health and wellbeing of children and is therefore in the best interests of the child.

1 The Role of Physical Activity and Sport in Mental Health - The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (fsem.ac.uk)

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/?p=29838

CHI was launched in June 2016 and is a partnership of leading organisations sharing a vision that by 2030 every child should enjoy a safe and healthy journey to school. With a focus on policies for sustainable transportation, road safety, clean fuels and vehicles, and equitable urban development, CHI advocates for and supports practical activities to ensure every child has the right to: 1) use safe roads 2) breathe clean air 3) an education 4) explore in safety 5) protection from violence 6) be heard.

Re-issue Note

This projet has been re-issued to fix a typographical error in sub-paragraph (iv) of the amendment, with a reference to "£1,400,000" changed to £1,700,000" accordingly.