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STATES OF JERSEY
ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLIMATE COUNCIL (P.117/2022) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 24th February 2023 by the Minister for the Environment
STATES GREFFE
2022 P.117 Com.
COMMENTS
The Minister for the Environment is minded to oppose part a) and accept part b) of the Amendment to P.117/2022 lodged by Deputy Coles , and urges the Assembly to do the same.
Part a) of the Amendment proposes that the Climate Council should report every 2 years instead of 4 years, and part b) proposes that the Council should consider and advise on Carbon Sequestration initiatives that would be applicable to Jersey.
Frequency of reporting
The frequency of Climate Council reports was the subject of amendment to amendment during the debate on the Carbon Neutral Roadmap proposition in April 2022 and subsequently agreed as part of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap debate to align with the end of each term of government.
This current Amendment argues that 4 years is too long between reporting cycles, and that 2 yearly reporting would allow greater opportunity to evolve our approach if sufficient progress is not being made. It is heartening to see that Deputy Coles sees the value of the Climate Council, however, doubling the reporting frequency would prove counterproductive.
This increase in demand on officer time would reduce their capacity to deliver the changes that result in emission reductions.
By extension, it would also double the costs of administration of the Council to £80k- £120k, diverting further Climate Emergency Funding away from greenhouse gas emission reduction delivery.
Existing internal governance of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap is robust and sufficient to monitor progress between Climate Council reporting cycles. The Carbon Neutral Roadmap, as agreed by the States Assembly, makes clear that responsibility for its governance 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. Officers provide regular updates on progress to the Environment Ministerial team and the team updates the Council of Ministers on Carbon Neutral Roadmap progress as required. The Minister for the Environment has delegated responsibility for policies relating to the Climate Emergency Fund to the Assistant Minister for the Environment.
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel also offers important oversight of Carbon Neutral Roadmap progress. Falling within its remit, the Panel can choose to review Carbon Neutral Roadmap policies and legislative changes at any point, holding ministers to account for their decisions and actions.
So too, the Assembly holds ministers to account. Members have the power to ask questions about any topic at any time, and questions on Carbon Neutral Roadmap progress are always welcome.
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Progress on Jersey's net zero journey is also subject to international scrutiny. The KPI for overall success of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap is the Island's annual greenhouse gas inventory which is reported annually. Jersey's direct (Scope 1) emissions are reported to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) each year. Jersey's emissions inventory forms part of the UK inventory, along with the other Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Jersey would be held to account for failing to meet emission reduction targets through this process. This international reporting will continue, as is our obligation under the extension of the Paris Agreement. Jersey's emissions inventory is prepared in accordance with international guidance and best practice and is made publicly available via www.opendata.gov.je. Emissions inventories worldwide are published 2 years in arrears due to the scale and complexity of the data and analysis involved. Jersey's emissions inventory will be used to monitor progress in emission reductions between Climate Council reporting cycles.
Carbon Sequestration
Members are reminded that Carbon Sequestration is covered under Carbon Neutral Roadmap policy EN5 - Blue Carbon, biodiversity and sequestration. This policy considers both terrestrial and marine (blue) sequestration, funding further research and policy development to better understand the role natural sequestration could play in Jersey's journey to carbon neutrality, and includes the development of a Carbon Sequestration Framework and Marine Spatial Plan.
The Minister is happy to accept part b) of the Amendment as it will naturally fall within the Council's remit. The Climate Council will report on progress against each Carbon Neutral Roadmap policy, thereby giving the Council opportunity to reflect on progress to better understand the local potential of sequestration in Jersey.
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