Climate change policy set to be debated this week

Tuesday 18 August 2020

A policy letter which would commit Guernsey to becoming ‘carbon neutral’ is set to be debated at this week's States meeting, which starts today and is the last for the current assembly.

The proposal, submitted by the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, sets a target of ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050, and a 57% reduction, compared to 1990 levels, by 2030.

An ‘Emissions Hierarchy,’ which prioritises emission reduction strategies with the most long-term impact, forms the basis of many of the proposals. The four tenets of the Hierarchy – ‘Avoid, Reduce, Replace, Offset’ – would be implemented into any future States’ planning, and offered as guidance to other businesses and organisations.

Pictured: Students gathered outside the Royal Court at the end of a protest march in September 2019, as part of a global demonstration in support of climate action.

If the policy letter is successful, E&I will review and update the Action Plan at least once every two years, to ensure that appropriate steps are being taken to meet emissions targets.

Scientists have warned that there is a ‘point of no return’ for climate action, after which, the goals set out in the 2016 Paris Agreement will not be attainable, and many of the impacts of climate change will be irreversible. 

Constant changes in regulations and activity make it difficult to project when that mark will be hit, but if global emissions continue as they are, that point is likely to be within the next 20 years. E&I President Barry Brehaut feels it is vital for Guernsey to have policies which help it mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

The Meeting of the States of Deliberation commences at 9:30 a.m. today.

You can watch the live stream of the States' Meeting at via MS Teams https://t.co/zh04NwGmPX or listen via BBC Guernsey online on https://t.co/257s29ian3 or via BBC Radio Guernsey's 1116MW frequency pic.twitter.com/mTIf8NCvyk

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) August 18, 2020

“This policy promotes a green economy, protects the island’s biodiversity, embraces the use of renewable energy and lays the groundwork for adaptation measures,” said Deputy Barry Brehaut. “Not only does Guernsey contribute to global climate change but, as an island, it is already feeling the impacts.”

“This policy will ensure our island is sustainable and resilient to possible future climate change impacts for generations to come.”