Environmental Policies Review - Minister for Planning and Environment - Ministerial Response - 10 June 2015

Findings

Comments

1

Progress has been made since the publication of Jersey into the Millennium: A Sustainable Future in the development and implementation of environmental policy and strategy. This is reflective of the significant amount of time and effort that has gone into considering and planning in respect of environmental issues in Jersey.

The  Panel's  comments  are  noted  and the  Minister  is  grateful  that  the significant  improvement  in  the environmental  strategy  and  policy framework that has developed since the Jersey  into  the  Millennium  report  has been recognised.

2

There are a number of environmental challenges facing the Island, both at global and local levels, that need to be understood and addressed.

The Panel's comments are noted and in accordance  with  the  Minister's  own thoughts as submitted in evidence.

The  global  scale  environmental challenges  (inter alia)  were  well summarised to a wide audience at the recent Enterprise Week opening session (12.05.15).  Will  Day,  Sustainability Adviser  to  PwC talk  addressed  The Future  of  Enterprise',  outlining  the global megatrends that are profoundly disrupting and reshaping the economic and  commercial  landscape1.  Climate change  and  resource  scarcity  are identified as one of the 5 megatrends, and  are  of  particular  interest  to  me given the potential for their impacts on the  Island.  Importantly,  the  speaker

Findings

Comments

identified  that  with  these  significant challenges come opportunities. As my Department continues to understand and address these environmental challenges both locally and globally, I intend to use lessons and best practice elsewhere to maximise  these  opportunities.  For example,  we  are  currently  working across all Departments to co-ordinate a framework  for  the  development  of  a climate  change  adaptation  plan  which will also closely tie in with the Future of   St. Helier  master-planning  work. Once  in  place,  Jersey  will  be  in  a position to differentiate itself from other offshore  centres  as  not  only  fiscally responsible, but also climate-resilient.

3

Although references to environmental issues may be found in the Draft Strategic Plan, insufficient allowance for such issues is made within the

4 key priorities proposed by the Council of Ministers.

The Panel's comments are accepted and the  Minister  is  grateful  for  the amendments suggested by the Panel to the  Draft  Strategic  Plan.  Both  the Minister and the Council of Ministers supported  these  additions  that  more clearly  emphasized  environmental issues,  and  ultimately  these  were incorporated into the agreed version of the Plan.

4

Sustainability and environmental matters will form a significant part of the Island Vision to be developed later in 2015.

As  the  Minister  said  in  evidence,  the Strategic  Plan  represented  a  priority action  plan  for  the  next  4 years. However, a more coherent and longer- term document should be developed to transcend political terms and provide a more strategic direction for Jersey. This document,  The  Island  Vision',  will more  roundly  present  the  3 pillars  of community, economy and environment, and  recognise  and  attempt  to  balance potential trade-offs. Officers continue to work  with  the  Head  of  Strategic Planning and the Director of Corporate Policy and the Policy Network (a group of senior policy officers from across all States Departments) in the development of the Island Vison, and is considered critical work for the policy team.

Findings

Comments

5

The development of the Sustainability Assessment Framework will assist the delivery of integrated strategic thinking to guide policy development and implementation and procurement. Further clarity is required on the principles to be embodied in the Framework: how the Framework will be structured and how it will operate.

The development of the Sustainability Assessment Framework has yet to begin in  earnest,  but  the Minister  would  be pleased to share progress with the Panel at scheduled quarterly meetings.

6

To achieve the goal of sustainable integrated policy and strategic development, specific sustainability and environmental training should be delivered at all levels of the public sector.

I  recognise  that  many  organisations have sustainability objectives embedded as core values across all levels of the organisation  and,  in  particular,  these objectives  are  fundamental  to  their policy  and  strategy  development. However, the States of Jersey is starting to embark upon this journey beginning with the eco-active States programme, the  development  of  the  Island  Vision and  subsequent  development  of  the Sustainability Assessment Framework.

7

There is a significant and worrying situation in respect of nitrate levels in Jersey's water where, on occasions, levels can exceed World Health Organisation limits. This problem has arisen from the usage of agricultural fertilisers which has led to nitrate levels in water at times exceeding the limits.

The recent status assessment carried out by  Departmental  officers  and  Atkins Ltd. as part of the Water Strategy (in preparation,  2015)  underlined  that  the nitrate  in  both  ground  and  surface waters in Jersey are key challenges that need  to  be  addressed.  They  also highlighted  issues  with  other  diffuse pollutants  such  as  pesticides  and phosphates  that  need  further investigation. The high nitrate level in Jersey's surface and groundwater comes predominantly  from  intensive agriculture, but is also exacerbated by other  population  pressures,  such  as domestic  and  amenity  sources  of nitrogen  (septic  tanks  or  golf courses/gardens).  Although  average nitrate levels have reduced somewhat in both ground and surface water, there are continued  concerns  about  episodic seasonal spikes of nitrate in the mains water  supply.  There  is  a  need  to introduce  additional  measures  to address the diffuse pollution problem in Jersey,  particularly  from  nitrate,  and ensure  all  sources  are  below 50mg/l NO3.

Findings

Comments

8

Effective and sustainable soil management is of vital importance and is a matter which should be included in the vision, strategy and plans for the Island's future well- being and prosperity.

The Minister agrees that soil health is important  and  will  ensure  the Department  continues  to  work  with farmers  to  promote  best  practice  in respect of soil husbandry. This matter will  also  be  represented  within  the upcoming Rural Economy Strategy, and I will ensure it is appropriately included in the development of the Island Vision, as it represents a key resource for our agricultural sector.

9

By the Executive's own admission, there has been insufficient progress in delivering the Sustainable Transport Policy.

The Minister shares the Panel's concern and,  whilst  he  does  not  hold  direct responsibility  for  delivering  the Sustainable Transport Policy, he offers his support to the Minister for Transport and Technical Services in ensuring that progress is made in this key area.

10

A focus on energy reduction could have considerable benefits; it could improve efficiency, productivity and deliver financial savings.

The  Minister  agrees  with  these sentiments, which are the cornerstone of Policy 1  in  Pathway 2050:  An  Energy Plan  for  Jersey.  Policy 1  Demand Management  states  The  Minister  for Planning  and  Environment,  working with  other  relevant  Ministers  and  the Energy  Partnership,  will  develop  and implement the actions and work streams that will reduce energy demand through a  series  of  interventions  across  all emissions  sectors  according  to identified targets'. Action statements 2 to 8 and 11 to 16 in the Plan propose measures  to  reduce  both  demand  and emissions.

11

In respect of resource use, explicit incorporation of the principles of demand management within future financial planning could have significant benefits in terms of productivity. This would assist in the delivery of efficiency and savings and thereby have a positive economic impact. Resource use, demand management and low impact living are particularly vital in the light of current population policy that expects an ongoing increase in the Island's population.

Again  the  Minister  concurs  with  the statement.  Demand  management  is particularly  important  in  our  small Island and rising population given the negative  environmental  impacts  of some  high-demand  behaviour  and resource use. I will continue to explore policies  that  manage  demand, recognising that a combination of both carrots'  and  sticks'  is  often  most effective.

Recommendations

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

The Draft Strategic Plan should be  amended  to  ensure  that environmental considerations are integrated within the delivery of each of the four key priorities.

Accept

Scrutiny  proposed  numerous amendments to the wording of the Draft  Strategic  Plan  in  the  Ninth Amendment  to  P.27/2015,  which were  supported  by  the  Council  of Ministers (see published comments) and  adopted  by  the  States Assembly.

Complete

2

The  Minister  for  Planning  and Environment  should  pursue  the development of a Sustainability Assessment  Framework  and report to this Panel with progress by July 2015.

Accept

The Minister is fully supportive of the development of a Sustainability Assessment  Framework  and  has instructed his officers to support the Head of Strategic Planning and the Director of Corporate Policy in the forwarding of this work-stream. A progress report will be provided in July 2015.

Ongoing work led by the Chief Minister's Department

3

The  Minister  for  Planning  and Environment should request his Department  to  liaise  with  the Human  Resources  Section  to ensure that specific sustainability and  environmental  training  is delivered  at  all  levels  of  the public  sector  and  that, subsequently,  there  is appropriate  inclusion  of environmental  principles  in  the delivery  of  public  sector management training.

Partly accept

Staff awareness and participation in the  organisation's  environmental policy, commitments and behaviour change programme is a key part of the eco-active States programme to which  the  Corporate  Management Board  has  committed.  Information is regularly posted on MyStates and cascaded  through  the  ECO (Environmental  Cascade  Officer) network  across  all  Departments. ECOs  are  invited  to  participate  in eco-active  lunch  and  learn' Continuing  Professional Development  sessions  (begun  in 2015)  which  focus  on  different aspects of resource efficiency. Good resource  efficiency  and  demand management  not  only  has environmental  benefits,  but  also increases  productivity  and  lowers bottom-line costs. As such, it is a key  part  of  the  modernisation programme  and  consistent  with Lean  principles.  The  eco-active States programme could be further strengthened  by  integration  into

Recommendations

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

staff  Performance,  Review  and Appraisal  processes  (PRA), development  plans  and  the induction process.

Once  the  sustainability  appraisal process has been agreed, the ECO network could form a helpful role in rolling this out to staff.

However,  environmental  training' is currently limited to the eco-active programme.  Any  further sustainability  training  is  not resourced within existing budgets. I am willing to open discussions with the  Human  Resources  Section  on this matter, but I suspect that any new  organisation-wide  initiatives will need very careful consideration and novel approaches to overcome the resourcing challenges. I would welcome  the  Panel's  thoughts  on the matter.

4

The  Minister  for  Planning  and Environment should ensure that the  prospective  Water  Strategy will  provide  a  definitive explanation of how the problem of high nitrate levels in Jersey's water  will  be  resolved,  with targets  for  delivering  specified reductions in nitrate levels.

Accept

The Minister agrees that the level of nitrate  in  local  waters  needs  to reduce.  Reducing  the  levels  of nitrate in surface and groundwater will  be  the  priority  issue  in  the Water  Strategy  (under  preparation 2015). The Water Strategy will set water  quality  objectives  and appraise  and  propose  a  range  of measures  to  best  achieve  the objectives  in  a  cost-effective  way over the 5 year time period to 2020. The recent Nitrate Working Group recommendations  will  be incorporated  into  this  process  for assessment.  Rural  Economy Strategy policies (also currently in preparation)  will  also  incentivise good practice in terms of reducing diffuse pollution from agriculture.

Consultation on the Water Strategy is expected by the end of 2015

Recommendations

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

5

The  Minister  for  Planning  and Environment  should  correspond with the Minister for Transport and  Technical  Services  and ensure that the States Assembly is  provided  with  an  update  by July  2015  on  progress,  or  lack thereof,  against  the  measures adopted  in  the  Sustainable Transport Policy.

Accept

The  Minister  is  eager  to  see progress on the aims and objectives of the Sustainable Transport Policy, especially  given  the  reform  of transport that will ultimately need to take place if we are to achieve our aspirations within the Energy Plan. The Minister will follow up with the Minister  for  Transport  and Technical Services and request that the  Assembly  is  provided  with  an update of progress by July 2015.

Progress report in July 2015

6

The  Minister  for  Planning  and Environment should ensure that the  principles  of  demand management in respect of energy and  resources  are  explicitly incorporated  within  the development of the new Medium Term Financial Plan.

Accept

The Minister acknowledges that the proper use of energy and resources (i.e.  demand  management)  is entirely  consistent  with  positive environmental outcomes and makes good  business  sense,  ultimately saving  the  organisation  money  by avoiding  any  waste.  Indeed, Pathway 2050 sets the Public Sector challenging energy reduction targets in addition to the savings that have already been made. The eco-active States programme is committed to identifying  and  improving  the environmental  performance  and resource use (energy, water, water, transport and procurement). Thus, I would argue that the principles of demand  management  are  already agreed  and  embedded  within  the organisation. Therefore, I believe it would  be  duplication  to  explicitly incorporate  them  within  the  new MTFP.