The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
STATES OF JERSEY
CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY: ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY (P.27/2019) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 30th April 2019 by the Chief Minister
STATES GREFFE
2019 P.27 Com.
COMMENTS
The Chief Minister is supportive of the overall principles laid out in P.27/2019, and is happy to accept the amended versions to parts (a) and (b), as lodged by the Minister for the Environment in P.27/2019 Amd.
Part (c) is not supported by the Chief Minister however, as it is felt that making climate change a standing item on the Council of Ministers' ("CoM") agenda would not be the correct means to address and tackle such long-term issues. Whilst specific items relating to climate change can be, and already are, brought to CoM as and when necessary, making it a standing item would not be appropriate.
The Chief Minister would draw the Assembly's attention to the answer given by the Minister for the Environment in response to OQ.233/2018 –
"Anyway, climate change reliance is in the common strategic policies of the Council of Ministers, and also the work on the energy plan pathway 2050 to reduce our emissions. An energy partnership will oversee that and there will be regular reporting. But having that, I do not think at the moment that it would be beneficial to put it as a regular item on the Council of Ministers agenda. It is not a criticism but I do not think it will necessarily get the attention at the moment but, nonetheless, as Minister I will make absolutely sure that work is monitored and brought back and notified to the public and everybody concerned as we proceed with it. But it is a top priority."
The Chief Minister would also draw the attention to the Common Strategic Policy ("CSP"), which, as well as having "We will protect and value our environment" as one of the 5 strategic priorities, also includes the following specific targets for this Government –
- Establish our policy on renewable energy at the utility and domestic scale, with the intention of creating a more sustainable energy supply
- Produce an ambitious sustainable transport plan including external links
- Decrease the amount of waste we produce, especially plastics
- Review options for a co-ordinated and consistent Island-wide recycling programme.
As well as being one of the Government's strategic priorities, there are several programmes already in place which are tackling environmental matters, and in particular an agreed ambitious programme of carbon reductions. "Energy Plan for Jersey: Pathway 2050' " (P.38/2014) is overseen by the Jersey Energy Partnership, made up of a multi-stakeholder forum and a Ministerial Energy Executive, with 4 Ministers. The aim of the Plan is to deliver a reduction in the Island's carbon emissions of nearly 80% lower than the 1990 baseline, through a detailed programme of policy interventions, by 2050.
It is felt that having these targets within the CSP and the ongoing work through the Energy Plan will ensure the significant Ministerial oversight necessary to achieve the objectives of the Proposition (as amended).
Page - 2
P.27/2019 Com.
___________________________________________________________________________
Statement under Standing Order 37A [Presentation of comment relating to a proposition]
These comments were submitted to the States Greffe after the noon deadline as set out in Standing Order 37A in order for final review processes to be completed.
Page - 3
P.27/2019 Com.