New plan to cut island’s carbon emissions to go before States
Building standards, car journeys and heating fuels have been earmarked for action to reduce the island’s carbon emissions.
They led a list of initiatives in a new seven-year plan published yesterday by the Environment & Infrastructure Committee.
E&I said the plan was a pragmatic approach which would maintain progress towards the goal of ending carbon emissions by 2050, known as net zero, agreed at a climate conference in Paris 10 years ago.
‘Given the technology and other solutions that currently exist, Guernsey can get close to net zero, but not reach it,’ said E&I president Lindsay de Sausmarez.
‘While emissions reduction is an important factor, nothing in the proposed approach is included for its carbon impact alone.
‘Every suggestion makes sense irrespective of any emissions reductions. All initiatives stand on their own merits, such as economic and social benefits, even if their carbon reductions potential is entirely discounted.
‘If we want to capitalise on these benefits and achieve net zero in line with international standards and to maintain our reputation as a sustainable finance centre, we will need to embrace initiatives like these that are sensible, affordable and grounded in reality.’
E&I’s policy letter, which it hopes the States will debate before the end of the political term, contains no request for additional funds.
It believes most of the work can be carried out within existing budgets, but will return to the States Assembly if extra expenditure becomes necessary.
Guernsey is already on course to meet an interim 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 57% on 1990 levels, largely thanks to the electricity interconnector to France installed 25 years ago.
Without additional changes, emissions are currently estimated to reduce by 66% by 2050.
Some of the remaining 34% could be achieved by the initiatives proposed in E&I’s latest plan, but net zero is likely to be fully achieved only with advancements in carbon capture technology.
‘We know there is a lot of innovation going on, so instead of proposing a specific pathway to take us to 2050, with the uncertainty of what that innovation will bring, we are proposing to monitor and review our approach every seven years so we can make the most of advances that might benefit Guernsey as they develop’, said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘Guernsey is in many ways in a much more fortunate position than the UK. We have already transitioned our electricity sector to low carbon sources, for example, so any costs attributed to the UK achieving net zero are not necessarily relevant here.’
E&I’s seven-year plan also includes reducing emissions from agriculture, the States reporting on its own emissions, reviewing the use of environmental taxes, and bringing together the public and private sectors in a new Net Zero Action Forum.
Earlier in this political term, the committee steered a new electricity strategy through the Assembly, arguing that greater investment in renewable energy would cost the States and the public less in the long term than retaining current infrastructure.
In its latest report, it said that its approach would create new opportunities for economic growth, improve transport choice, and help make the island healthier.
