Establishment of a Climate Council.: (P.117/2022): amendment.

STATES OF JERSEY

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLIMATE COUNCIL (P.117/2022): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 20th January 2023 by Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South Earliest date for debate: 7th February 2023

STATES GREFFE

2022  P.117 Amd.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLIMATE COUNCIL (P.117/2022):

AMENDMENT

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After the words "set out in the Report", insert the words ", except that –

1. the delivery phase for the Climate Council should be 2 years instead of 4 years, with all references to the 4-year delivery phase amended accordingly; and
2. on page 4, after the words "States Assembly." there should be inserted the  words  "The  Council  will  consider  and  advise  on  Carbon Sequestrating initiatives that would be applicable to Jersey.""

DEPUTY T.A. COLES OF ST. HELIER SOUTH

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

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, except that –

1. the delivery phase for the Climate Council should be 2 yearsinstead of 4 years, with all references to the 4-year delivery phaseamended accordingly; and
2. on page 4, after the words "States Assembly." there should be inserted the words "The Council will consider and advise on Carbon  Sequestrating  initiatives  that  would  be  applicable  to Jersey.".

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P.117/2022 Amd.

REPORT

Summary

P.117/2022 Establishment of a Climate Council was an important part of our Carbon Neutral Road Map, ensuring that we are still on the correct course and making the right decisions at the right time. This is why I believe that 4 years is too long to wait between meetings of this council, and that meetings every 2 years should be considered. With meetings and reports being produced every 2 years there is a chance to changed course, should the Government of Jersey be missing targets, and to evolve our approach should technologies or strategies change.

The second part of this amendment is to add carbon sequestration, the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, as a specific area for the Climate Council to consider as part of their meetings and reports.[1] Reducing our carbon emissions is vitally important, but is it enough to get us to carbon neutral on its own? Possibly, but it is unlikely. By looking at and planning for areas in carbon sequestration we could be ready to react quickly and effectively.

Background

Climate change is the largest single threat facing us globally and moving to a carbon neutral state is vital to prevent this threat becoming a global disaster.

In April 2022, the States Assembly approved Jersey's Carbon Neutral Road Map. [2] This road map requires the Minister for the Environment to establish the Climate Council to ensure government is making progress on the reduction of carbon emissions by 2025. Under the current proposition they would then not be expected to reconvene until Q2 2029 and report progress to the Assembly in 2030.

The Carbon Neutral Road Map also requires, under policy EN5,[3] a framework to be established by end of 2023 for Carbon Sequestering, though this is based on natural sequestration and nothing mechanical. Jersey's marine environment, if protected and managed correctly, will be very efficient at sequestering carbon, there is also our on- land sequestering ability which can be considered under this framework guidance, but there is no mention of technology or off island investment opportunity.

Conclusion

These amendments will not impede or distract from our goal to be Carbon Neutral but allows us to check our progress at a more regular interval and add a necessary term of reference for the Climate Council to consider.

Financial and manpower implications

P.117/2022 outlines that the high-level costs for the Climate Council are estimated to be between £40k-£60k, incurred every four years as originally proposed from 2025. Under this amendment that figure will be incurred every second year starting from 2025.

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