9762 Government’s targets to address the issue of climate change

2016.12.12

9 Deputy S.Y. Mézec of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding the Government's

targets to address the issue of climate change: [9762]

What targets, if any, does the Government have in place to ensure that Jersey plays its part in addressing the issue of climate change?

Senator I.J. Gorst (The Chief Minister):

Jersey takes its international environmental obligations very seriously. We are signatories to the relevant international protocols and are committed to reducing carbon emissions. Our energy plan outlines detailed policies to reduce the Island's carbon emissions by nearly 80 per cent by 2050 compared to our 1990 baseline. This will help us to ensure that the Island has secure, affordable and sustainable energy while also being a good global citizen in action against climate change.

1. Deputy S.Y. Mézec :

Of course we all welcome the stated commitment for the aims there but the Chief Minister spoke about being a good global citizen on this subject. Does it not therefore send out mixed messages when recently there has been a focus on oil and gas week where there were efforts made to encourage businesses to do business with Jersey, bearing in mind this is ultimately a trade which, to be frank, is destroying the planet?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

No, it does not at all. Companies which are coming to Jersey and work with Locate Jersey, they work with them to make sure that they are managing environmental risks, that they are following best practice, that they are responsible and ethical when it comes to those natural resource companies.

2. Senator S.C. Ferguson:

Would the Chief Minister like to forecast the state of local transport should we achieve this 80 per cent reduction in carbon by 2030 or whichever year it is?

[15:30]

Senator I.J. Gorst :

No, I will desist from that offer.

3. Senator S.C. Ferguson:

Is it not true that if this target is achieved we shall either be walking or on bicycles?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

Technology is changing all the time and elsewhere in the world some governments are giving incentives. Some energy companies are giving incentives. Some technology companies are giving incentives. Over the relatively short lifespan of Members of this Assembly we have seen technology transform engine capacities, clean engines, technologies that move people. I have been out in the Middle East and been in driverless technology driven cars. The world around us is changing so we cannot assume that with all those changes we will simply either be walking or cycling because there are many other outcomes that may transport us from one place to the next.

4. Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier :

Climate change is one of the issues raised by the Environment, Housing and Technical Services Scrutiny Panel in their revisions to the States of Jersey Strategic Plan. We are now more than half way through the Strategic Plan. Would the Chief Minister undertake to either tell us now or to report back on how far his Government is meeting the environmental objectives of the Strategic Plan?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

They are making good progress. The Department for Infrastructure has got plans. The Minister for the Environment also is working on policies and plans and I am sure that they would be delighted to report back to the Assembly.

5. Deputy G.P. Southern :

It is all very well for the Chief Minister to talk about achieving these laudable aims of 80 per cent reduction in energy use but that does not tie-in well with his government's reduction in energy saving programmes in insulating houses that already exist or subsidising the insulation of housing that already exists and that has been reduced in terms of its commitment over the past 2 years, has it not? Does the Chief Minister manage to balance those 2 issues?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

Absolutely because thousands of vulnerable Islanders received support over the 5-year period of the energy efficiency grant to deliver improved energy efficiency of their homes. That, together with amended regulation, falls under the Minister for the Environment, which is about new houses and building bylaws, et cetera, work together to ensure that we can deliver on those policies into the future.

6. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Yet the funding for that scheme has been vastly reduced. Does he think he has managed to insulate every available home on the Island or is it just a cost saving again?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

We should not expect the Government to do everything. We should expect a partnership with Government and the private sector and members of the public should consider themselves, together with their energy provider, about ways that they can improve the insulation and energy use of their own homes.

7. Deputy M. Tadier :

Will the Chief Minister state whether he thinks the States are doing enough and leading by example when it comes to using green energy but also being zero or carbon neutral. For example, will he give evidence of any new States buildings which incorporate solar panels which aim to be zero carbon or carbon neutral and incorporate things such as grey water recycling and if not, why not?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

This is not my area of expertise. I did suggest that this question should have been more rightly directed to the Minister for the Environment but there we are. But, as I understand it, St. Martin 's School is a perfect example in answer to all of those questions that the Deputy has just listed.

8. Deputy M. Tadier :

Supplementary. I thought it was the Chief Minister who is responsible for Jersey's international obligations of which the environment and carbon emissions must necessarily be one, but even if it is not is it not something which under collective responsibility he, as chief of the Government, should be making sure that every department under his watch should be aiming for the very highest standards in environmentalism rather than just simply paying lip service to it on occasion?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

Has the Deputy read the Energy Policy? Perhaps not. Has the Deputy spoken to the staff in the Environment Department? Perhaps not. Has the Deputy spoken to everything that Jersey Property Holdings are doing in answer to the questions that he asked me about? Perhaps not, judging by his supplementary question. We have international obligations. We are serious about meeting those international obligations and departments, day in, day out, at an operational level are helping us to deliver on those obligations.

9. Deputy S.Y. Mézec :

Since the Chief Minister makes no apologies for wanting to do business with firms which ultimately are destroying the planet, could he let the Assembly know what efforts, if any, the Government and Locate Jersey are making to encourage companies involved in researching and providing renewable energy to do business with Jersey? What conferences are we sending our people to and what efforts are being made to boast about the services that Jersey has to offer potentially to these businesses and to let them know how they can benefit so that we can be playing a positive role in helping to develop those renewable energy plans?

Senator I.J. Gorst :

I have got no doubt that Locate Jersey are doing that as well. On a recent trip that I went on to the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) there was a climate change conference and I met various people in the sidelines of that conference. I have spoken, as I am sure Senator Ozouf has, to fund managers and fund operators that are investing in Cleantech, in climate change products. Of course we welcome those and that is part of our extended hand of friendship to businesses to use Jersey in a responsible way.