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WRITTEN QUESTION TO CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY J.H. YOUNG OF ST. BRELADE ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2013
Question
Will the Chief Minister inform the Assembly of his policy priorities for the environment and whether these policies enjoy the wholehearted support of the Council of Ministers?
Answer
The Chief Minister's policy priorities for the environment are set out in the Strategic Plan, which enjoys the complete support of the Council of Ministers.
The development of sustainable long term planning is a key priority of the Plan and much work has already been undertaken, and continues to be undertaken, to provide a robust and comprehensive environmental policy framework for the Island.
Environmental policy priorities are also set by the requirements of the multi-lateral environmental commitments to which Jersey is a signatory, all of which are fully supported by the Council of Ministers.
A list of the Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and relevant policies are included below.
Convention | Principal Policy/ legislation [1] |
Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) | Biodiversity strategy |
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn) Treaty extended | Biodiversity strategy |
African-Eurasian Water bird Agreement (AEWA) – Treaty extended | Biodiversity strategy |
Memorandum of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia | Biodiversity strategy |
Agreement on the Conservation of European Bats (EUROBATS) – Agreement & 2 Amendments (1995 & 2000) | Biodiversity strategy |
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern) | Biodiversity strategy |
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) | Endangered Species (CITES)(Jersey) law 2012 |
International Plant Protection Convention | Plant Health (Jersey) law 2003 |
Agreement on the Conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) – Agreement extended but not Amendment | Integrated coastal zone management strategy (ICZM) 2008 |
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as a Waterfowl Habitat – Treaty, Amendment & Protocol extended | RAMSAR management plan 2011 |
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter 1972 – Treaty & Protocol below | ICZM 2008 |
1996 Protocol to the above Convention | ICZM 2008 |
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR) | Water Resources (Jersey) Law 2007 ICZM 200 |
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | Draft Energy Plan |
Kyoto Protocol to above Convention | Draft Energy Plan |
UN Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer – Treaty & Protocol below extended | Air Quality strategy 2012 |
Montreal Protocol to above Convention | Air Quality strategy 2012 |
UNECE Convention on Long Range Trans boundary Air Pollution and Associated Protocols (CLRTAP) | Air Quality strategy 2012 |
Associated Protocols to above Convention | Air Quality strategy 2012 |
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in Trans boundary Context (ESPOO) – Treaty extended but not the 2 Amendments or Protocol | Planning and Building (Environmental Impact)(Jersey) Order 2006 Supplementary Planning guidance practice note 10 (July 2011) |
Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Valletta) | Island Plan 2011 |
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada) | Island Plan 2011 |
Basel Convention of the Control of Trans boundary Waste, Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal – Treaty & Amendment extended but not Protocol | Waste Management (Jersey) Law 2005 |
Issues such as; climate change adaptation and mitigation; ensuring secure, affordable and sustainable energy; protecting habitats and biodiversity; management of our countryside and coastline; protection of heritage assets; ensuring high quality air and water; ensuring the sustainable management of waste; and encouraging sustainable use of finite resources, present significant environmental challenges.
The policies identified in the table above - which include the 2011 Island Plan, the Air Quality Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, and the draft Energy Plan - are all important environmental policy tools, which enjoy the support of the Council of Ministers.
The development of environmental policy cannot be undertaken in isolation and the Chief Minister, together with his Council of Ministers, is working to develop a long-term strategic policy framework which will set a balanced set of social, economic and environmental policy objectives for the Island for the next twenty years.