Jersey Youth Parliament final report – Climate Change

Final Report

August 2022

R.141/2022

Hello everyone!

We are the Jersey Youth Parliament Climate Change campaign group.

On 18th July 2022 we presented 18 months of research in the States Chamber on the hottest day, on record, in Jersey which was 37.9°C. Our climate is changing and this report documents our journey and our recommendations to the States Assembly to make positive changes for our future.

Meet the Group

The environment is the best part of our world, it's what we live in, it's what we

interact with daily. There is nowhere else we can find what we have now so we need to save it.

Alex

I think that it is important to protect

our environment because it provides

us with things that the younger

generation might not have due to

deforestation and rising sea levels.

Ava

Biodiversity and trees are the most important thing about this world, without them we wouldn't exist. We wouldn't have food or materials. I think biodiversity is the most important thing we should be worrying about.

Cal

I strongly believe that we should protect our environment, but at the moment wildlife's homes are being damaged and I think it's very bad

Keirra

The environment is the most important thing right now - it is the world around us. We have the trees, leaves, the grass, the birds and the bees. If we neglect it, all that could be gone. We can see already

so many extremities like flash floods and heatwaves,

destroying our planet is destroying our architecture.

Wojtek

The environment is important to me as the earth is such a beautiful place full of amazing wildlife and we

need to do everything we can to look after it. We are so lucky to live on this wonderful planet and at the moment we are destroying our environment. If we all

Poppy work together we can repair the damage and

safeguard our world for the future.

With support from Joel, Oliver, Eleanor, Sydney, Emily & Sebastian

Our campaign work included weekly meetings, group residentials, research, organising events, raising the profile of the Youth Parliament, recording podcasts, filming videos and increasing our social media presence to share our discoveries.

The JYP formed to provide an island wide forum for young people to discuss, research and connect current issues to the States Assembly. The JYP supports Article 12 of the UNCRC - the right to be listened to and taken seriously about issues that affect us. As we explored Climate Change and Climate Justice we learnt that many of our rights are affected and at risk including Articles 24, 27, 36, 3, 10, 13,19, 28, 29.

Article 29 of the UNCRC states that 'children have the right to an education which develops their personality, respect for others' rights and the environment' and that we also have a responsibility to uphold the rights of others. We have identified many areas which can be addressed through education although we also understand that our government have pledged to uphold our rights, protect us from harm and put children first.

Find out more about our campaigns work through jyp.je

A summary of our work...

We are proud that we have achieved a lot in the last 18 months as part of our campaign, here are just a few highlights of our journey as a group:

We reviewed the Island Plan and responded to the Carbon Neutral Roadmap recommendations

We created a survey and sent it out to young people around the Island We learnt about reducing temperature rise worldwide through a workshop with people from JICAS on Blue and Green Carbon

We created a video about our campaign and included our key priorities for improving Jersey's response to climate change Attended European Network of Youth Ambassadors climate conference in Bilbao with young people from around Europe

We organised and led a beach clean

We have visited La Collette to understand more about the recycling

process in Jersey

We have also had meetings with Scrutiny panels to find out what the Ministers have been doing so far to combat climate change

We planted fruit bushes as part of a project with Grow and held a sponsored walk

We promoted Walking Wednesdays and Cycling Sundays to encourage islanders to get into greener habits

We learnt about how to have conversations about climate change with other people and how to inform them about the issue One of our members attended a cycling conference held by the Dutch Cycling Embassy discussing how cycling provisions could be improved in Jersey following other models

We have promoted sustainable lifestyles

Acted to tackle invasive species in Jersey to protect native biodiversity

 Full JYP statement available at jyp.je

 "We must make sure that no one is left

behind or forgotten. It is our duty to ensure

that there is help available to enable

everyone to be part of our journey towardsa greener island."

Our recommendations have been shared with the States Assembly, Jersey, and those highlighted in green have also been shared with European Network of Ombudspersons for Children.

JYP Eco-school recommendations:

•We recommend that recycling is embedded and equal across all school in Jersey and that the Government lead by example to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

• Schools should have recycling bins for a variety of different materials around the site which are regularly emptied.

• There should be an environmental club for students to get involved with, discussing measures for the school to take as well as raising the profile of the climate crisis around the school.

• Schools could work on increasing biodiversity using wild' areas. Students could be involved in improving their own environment by planting trees onsite or cultivate flowers for bees and pollinators.

• Schools must ensure that all new builds and extensions are built using green architecture techniques such as solar panels and methods to reduce heat loss, making them more energy efficient.

• Schools should aim to reduce plastic in canteens (for example using plastic free packaging).

• Schools should hold assemblies and lessons for students on how to be more eco- friendly in their personal lives.

• Encouraging greener methods of travel to school (ensuring there are enough bike racks/showers/changing rooms). This should be introduced in tandem with more cycle routes and increases to existing ones.

JYP environmental education recommendations:

• There should be a detailed and in depth climate curriculum that focuses on the current problems. It should be solution focused, and opportunistic, whilst giving a large sense of urgency.

• The government should also embed into other parts of the curriculum education focusing on the value of raw materials, supply chains and skills to reuse and repair to change consumer culture.

JYP active travel recommendations:

Continue to widen existing cycle routes and remove obstacles. Car parking along the avenue should be removed, and the space gained used to widen the path. Separate cyclists and pedestrians routes in the town area.

Cycle routes should be expanded throughout the island to create a large interconnected network of traffic free or green lane cycle routes. For example, along St Ouens Bay a cycle route should be constructed alongside the road or the sea wall. It must be wide enough for multiple cyclists to use. Currently cycle routes are well connected in the West but not the East. We need to expand cycle provisions up through town, to the schools, and through the east and north of the island. Everyone should be able to safely cycle to school, with the minimum amount of diversions, hills and traffic.

Speed limits must be lowered to increase safety. The national speed limit should be set to 20mph although there will be some exceptions such as Victoria Avenue where it could be reduced to 30mph. Roads that are currently green lanes must stay at 15mph, and roads that are currently 20mph needs to be converted into a green lane.

JYP active travel recommendations:

We recommend that laws are enforced to increase the safety of cycling and active travel on roads using Jersey's Carbon Neutral Roadmap funding.

Attitudes must be changed, from roads being for cars, motorbikes, buses etc. to roads being for all users, motorised, pedal power or animal powered.

Electric cars to be subsidised and encouraged, but preference should be given to expanding cycle infrastructure and making the island more friendly to cyclists.

Efficient, responsible use of planes and carbon offsetting

JYP energy recommendations:

The government must endeavour to ensure that our energy use and sources are efficient, sustainable and secure, whilst respecting natural habitats.

The government needs to subsidise on-island microgeneration, especially solar power. This should be done by making JEC increase the buyback rate to be higher, on a similar price level to the electricity from France, and by subsidising the installation of solar panels.

It should be mandatory to install solar panels or super insulation (whichever would reduce energy usage by the most on a case by case basis) on every new building or extension in Jersey. The installation costs are a lot cheaper when they are installed during construction, meaning that this is an efficient way to increase the energy efficiency of the island.

Campaigns should be launched to try and reduce the amount of energy used in workplaces, homes, and anywhere else.

JYP sustainable lifestyles recommendation:

A transportation tariff should be implemented, paid by the producers and the delivery companies, equal to the amount needed to offset the emissions released by the transport of the package. The tariff could be reduced for companies who meet human rights and environment credentials. This would shift consumer behaviour into companies that are better for the environment.

JYP green architecture recommendations:

We believe that green architecture should be looked into more, with the possible goal of making it a requirement for planning permission.

Planning permission should be stricter in regards to developments around the island, and especially around the coast.

Planning processes should make solar panels mandatory for all new builds and extensions.

Planning must ensure that 30% of every parish is natural environment, and make sure that the urban environment doesn't cover more than 30% of any parish or the whole island. An exemption could be made for St. Helier which is already urbanised.

JYP biodiversity recommendations:

Protect and increase the natural environment from 20% to at least 30% in Jersey for the future and ensure these areas are connected by corridors for wildlife.

You must create many no motor-craft, fishing and trawling zones in places important for aquatic biodiversity, in some places closer to the shore.

All exemptions to the 5 knots nautical speed limit should be cancelled, to reduce noise pollution and to increase the safety of our seas.

Further reviews into biodiversity protection should be made, aiming for long lasting protection of all Jersey's wonderful biodiversity.

JYP recycling recommendations:

We recommend that an island wide recycling system is implemented based on efficiency and cooperation.

Key Points

The reduction of speed limits and increased enforcement

Stricter, greener planning permission

Increased payback rates from JEC to fund alternative energy sources Schools being made greener through architecture and curriculum content An island wide, unified recycling system

Deputy Renouf

Do you think you are representative of your generation or do you think you are the outliers, the ones, the few who actually care?

JYP - As shown by our survey, which had hundreds of responses from different schools, the majority were similar to what we are saying. It helped us identify our priorities which were green energy,

transport and recycling. A lot of people felt passionately about the environment so we are trying to represent our peers.

Deputy Renouf then asked if the JYP discuss this with parents and if they would be happy to change their lifestyles?

JYP

Some would find it difficult but are willing to try to change their own attitudes mindsets and behaviours. There may need to be

some exceptions (speed limits for example) but many agreed with the overall aims.

Deputy Gardiner asked the JYP members how they might ensure the safety of pedestrians if bikes are prioritised on the island.

JYP - We do have a mobility hierarchy and cyclists do need to have responsibility to pedestrians just as cars and other motorised vehicles must have a responsibility to pedestrians and cyclists. Cycle education could be beneficial but if we make cycling on the roads safer we reduce the risk of cyclists coming into contact with pedestrians. If we make cycle routes it also reduces this likelihood.

Deputy Millar asked the JYP for their thoughts on the fashion industry and the waste associated with it.

JYP - We have highlighted the need for climate education and feel that it is important for people of all generations to be aware of the consequences of their actions and also to be aware of alternatives. We have explored fast fashion prior to our European Network Youth Ambassadors conference and hope that our 'transportation tariff' recommendation addresses this. We were concerned by human rights issues in production, air pollution from shipping and deliveries and the waste created from packaging and the item when it is no longer wanted.

Conclusion.

Having heard our presentation, and considered our report, we hope you will take all of our recommendations into account as you head into this next term. We hope our recommendations have affected your opinions and goals for the next four years. This is a great opportunity to act on Climate Change, Mental Health and reform Education. We hope you will do so making a positive impact on young people. We appreciate your support and that you have taken the time to listen to us.

Since this is a new States Assembly we want to stress loud and clear that children aren't just the future but they are the present.

Consider our voices and act. We are really grateful for the opportunity to share our findings with you, and we hope that you will keep your promise to put children first, through considering what we have to say and using our suggestions and input to make positive changes. This is incredibly important to us since it is part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Jersey is a signatory as of 2014, in which Article 12 states that we have the right to be listened to and taken seriously.

If you have children of your own think for them, think for us, and act for Jersey's future and don't forget one fifth of our entire island's population.

We would like to extend our thanks to the following individuals and organisations who have supported us in our campaign.

Gary Burgess

Jess Dunsdon

Emilita Robbins, Citizen's Assembly on Climate Change Chairperson Jane Burns, Eco Active

Natasha Day, Island Plan Consultation

Debbie Reeve, IOD

Nicole Maltwood, Eagle Labs

Lucy Layton & Deborah, Jersey Heritage

Sheena Brockie, Grow Jersey

Terry Stevens, Digital Jersey & The Digital Leadership Program 2021 Lisa Hart , Greffier to the States

JICAS

Piers Tharme, Recycling Manager, Governmnet of Jersey Office of the Children's Commisioner, Jersey

JYP Volunteers