This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
23.12.11.
12. Deputy S.Y. Mézec of the Chief Minister regarding benefits from COP28 (OQ.249/2023)
Will the Chief Minister advise what quantifiable benefits to Jersey will arise as a direct result of her presence at the COP28 conference?
Deputy K.L. Moore (The Chief Minister):
As an outward-facing small island jurisdiction, I am always pleased to represent us at international events and to enhance understanding of our strengths, what we can offer the world and what we can learn from others. Climate change affects every country and territory in the world, regardless of whether we are large or small. By attending COP28, the Minister for the Environment and I have been able to engage directly with fellow policy makers and with senior level contacts that will benefit the development of our domestic policies. For example, I was pleased to represent Jersey at a special event put on by the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates)-U.K. (United Kingdom) Business Council demonstrating Jersey’s commitment to supporting progress in the financial services industry so we can respond to growing demands in environment, social and governance obligations and boosting our visibility as a potential partner for other jurisdictions. We have an external facing economy, which is dependent on international trade and on our global partners having confidence that we are a competitive, responsible and mature jurisdiction with which others do business after.
- Deputy S.Y. Mézec :
My question referred to quantifiable benefits. Could I ask the Chief Minister to outline exactly what has been achieved by her presence there and how Islanders will directly benefit from it, and how that will be measured?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
I do believe that I have answered the Deputy ’s question. The whole purpose of engaging in international events is to share and promote understanding of our Island and what we can offer, what we are doing, and to learn from the experiences of others.
The Bailiff :
You are looking at me, Deputy , as if you are looking for some form of ... Deputy S.Y. Mézec :
I have asked 2 questions with the word “quantifiable” in and received answers that I do not think are quantifiable.
The Bailiff :
The Chief Minister will correct me if I am wrong but I think it is soft influence and soft power rather than quantifiable that the Chief Minister is saying, and that there does not appear to be an answer that is quantifiable. Is that fair, Chief Minister?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
That is a very fair description. Thank you, Sir.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
Given that the benefits are qualitative, and I fully accept that, can I ask the Chief Minister whether the reports are that the chair of the COP28 made comments where there was no science behind the demands to phase out fossil fuels, whether the Chief Minister agrees with that or whether she sees that as a real issue, which we would not want to be involved with?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
My understanding, after discussing with many people at the event, was that the majority of people do see the science of climate change, and the focus is most certainly on introducing and enhancing factors that help us all internationally to contribute, to harness the impact of climate change. That is certainly why we were there in attendance.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
One of the perhaps quantifiable or certainly noticeable issues on in Jersey at the moment is a growing voice, particularly in our media, that questions climate science. Can I ask the Chief Minister whether she will make a statement following her attendance at COP28 to put that clearly in perspective and the Government’s views of the importance of the science behind climate change?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
What I hear most frequently from members of the public on this subject are concerns about the cost of implementing climate-change mitigations. That is something that we have addressed and are addressing as a Government, and putting in place measures such as support for households to convert their energy use to move away from fossil fuels and we continue to do so. We understand the concerns that some members of our community have, but we continue to look to ways that we can all work together to support this important work across the globe.
- Deputy M.R. Scott :
Could the Chief Minister remind the Assembly what percentage of global fossil fuel emissions are produced by Jersey and the estimated cost of Jersey meeting net zero?
The Bailiff :
I am not sure that is within the parameters of the question, Deputy Scott . This is relating to the Chief Minister’s attendance at COP and the benefits to Jersey. It is not a general discussion about climate change or indeed the cost to Jersey of climate change. Do you wish to rephrase your question?
Deputy M.R. Scott :
At the conference, did the Minister raise the matter of the small percentage of global fossil fuel emissions that are produced by Jersey and the cost of the Island meeting net zero?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
As a small island nation, we of course use a small amount of fossil fuels in relation to other places. However, as I mentioned in my earlier answer, it is part of an international effort to change the way we do things and to use energy in a different way. Therefore, at the conference, I was very keen to talk with others about our commitment to meeting the Paris Agreement and also measures that we are undertaking as an Island, for example, supporting our sailor Phil Sharp, who will be racing the only zero emissions boat in the Vendée round-the-world yacht race. It is something that we can celebrate, a use of his science, developing a hydrogen fuel cell, which is an exciting contribution to the global climate and energy economy.
- Deputy S.Y. Mézec :
We saw from some of the output from the Government while Ministers were at COP28, references to the proposal for a wind farm in Jersey’s territorial waters. Could the Chief Minister explain whether it was one of the purposes of her attendance at that conference to seek out a partner to deliver that wind farm? If that was one of the purposes, was she successful in it?
Deputy K.L. Moore :
The Deputy will be aware that we are in a consultation process at the moment on the wind farm development. I personally feel that it is an exciting opportunity for the Island to generate power to ensure that the whole Island is powered by electricity, and also to create a new export market. It is something that we are proud to talk to other nations about. We are also interested to learn about the techniques that others are adopting in terms of funding such projects and also delivering them.
Deputy S.Y. Mézec :
Sir, I did ask if it was specifically one of the purposes of her attendance, which I would have thought would be easy to answer yes or no.
The Bailiff :
Are you able to answer that as a yes or no, Chief Minister? Deputy K.L. Moore :
I think I explained that we are in a consultation process, therefore that is not the purpose of the visit. However, it was an exciting part of our message to share with others.