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Representing Jersey at the COP28 climate change conference was important in promoting the island on the global stage – even if the benefits of attending the event could not be measured, according to the Chief Minister.
Deputy Kristina Moore was asked about her trip to the conference in Dubai by Deputy Sam Mézec during question time in the States Assembly yesterday.
She said: “We are an outward-facing, small-island jurisdiction looking to enhance our understanding of what we can offer and what we can learn from other jurisdictions.
“Climate change affects all countries, large or small, and this event provided a chance to liaise directly with senior policy-makers.”
Deputy Mézec asked the Chief Minister about what “quantifiable benefits” had been achieved through the visit.
Pictured: Reform leader Sam Mézec asked the Chief Minister about what “quantifiable benefits” had been achieved through the visit to Dubai.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said he understood that Deputy Moore was outlining “soft influence” benefits rather than those which were quantifiable, and the Chief Minister agreed with his comment.
Deputy Mézec asked if Deputy Moore, who was accompanied by Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf, had been seeking a partner for Jersey’s proposed new windfarm.
The Chief Minister stressed that the windfarm project was the subject of an ongoing consultation.
She added: “This is an exciting opportunity to generate our own power and create an export market, and I was proud to talk about it and learn about the techniques that might be part of it.”
Last week, islanders levied criticism at the pair's COP28 attendance on social media, branding it as "completely delusional" and "a waste of money".
In terms of population Jersey is slightly smaller than the town of Wakefield in Yorkshire. We are sending two Ministers plus back-up staff to the COP Summit in Dubai to join other influential world leaders. This is becoming beyond a joke. Completely delusional & a waste of money.
— Ben Shenton (@BenShenton3) December 3, 2023
Former States member Ben Shenton wrote: "In terms of population Jersey is slightly smaller than the town of Wakefield in Yorkshire.
"We are sending two Ministers plus back-up staff to the COP Summit in Dubai to join other influential world leaders.
"This is becoming beyond a joke. Completely delusional & a waste of money."
Deputy Philip Ozouf responded to the criticism, suggesting that islanders should back Deputies Moore and Renouf, saying: “Small islands have a responsibility to deliver net zero too.
“The serious issues of climate change are affecting many small states. We need to unite with them and support.”
#FactCheck A Yorkshire town doesn’t have billions invested in a world-class financial centre
— Philip Ozouf ???????? (@philipozouf) December 3, 2023
????????Financial Services are capable of facilitating ⬆️ £B’s in green finance for ???? infrastructure securing the economy of the future
Suggest: Back CM & Environment Minister
#Delivering https://t.co/LAzhlsDKSh
In a note to the media, the Government said that they were using "verified offsets for the emissions from the return-flights to Dubai".
Following further queries, Express learnt that the offsets have been purchased through an airline's partner organisation, and only projects with Gold Standard (certification for the voluntary carbon market) offset verification have been selected.
These include providing solar cookers for refugees, promoting improved cooking practices, and landfill gas extraction and electricity generation."
It's not the first time the Chief Minister has come under fire for overseas travel.
Her last-minute trip to Rwanda over the summer, which saw the Chief Minister miss a States Assembly meeting, drew strong criticism. It later emerged that the trip cost taxpayers nearly £14,000.
Express has repeatedly asked for reports on Ministerial travel and expenses during this Council of Ministers' term. These are now nine months overdue.
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