Climate change does not take any time off

The illustration developed by the University of Reading cleverly shows global warming from 1850 to the present day by way of a barcode of colours. Blue for colder years with increasingly vibrant shades of orange and red for the hot ones.

The last few decades are notably fiery.

News that 2020 was the second hottest on record for Guernsey at an average of 12.37C drew a cool response from the media, politicians and public.

In the year of a pandemic, Trump and Brexit it was worryingly easy to push the existential threat of climate change to the back of the mind.

Instead, the island welcomed the chance to enjoy long, sunny days on the beach and in the garden during the spring lockdown and summer.

Fresh air, warm swims and outdoor dining made a difficult world feel better and, given Covid-19, safer.

It is perfectly understandable for islanders to make the most of a warm (and wet) year and lose focus for a moment on the bigger picture.

But governments can afford no such luxury. If the rise in temperatures is to be slowed and the catastrophic effect on sea levels and weather patterns is to be mitigated (stopping it seems wildly optimistic at this stage) then the world cannot afford to get distracted, even by something as disruptive and life-threatening as a pandemic.

That includes Guernsey. Our contribution to greenhouse gasses may be tiny on a global scale but we retain the ability, especially in finance, to boost the green agenda.

Surveys show that most islanders are on board with that. Eight out of 10 agree that we need to reduce our energy consumption to help the environment and 85% think government action is very or quite important in reducing the effects of climate change.

Where enthusiasm drops away sharply is in a willingness to do something about it ourselves. Less than a third are strongly open to making lifestyle changes.

The challenge for the States is to shift that dial while attention is fixed on a more immediate health and financial crisis.