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The Environment Minister is seeking to shut down a bid by a Senator, who has consistently denied human-influenced climate change, to delay Jersey’s ‘net zero’ plan until the war in Ukraine is over.
Senator Sarah Ferguson has lodged a proposition aiming to push back debate on the Carbon Neutral Roadmap due to the impact on fuel and other costs that the conflict has had.
She argues that lower-income families have been impacted, and they won’t be able to afford the electric cars that the Roadmap incentivises all islanders to buy.
However, the Environment Minister has issued a strong response, recommending Members reject the amendment.
Deputy John Young said: “I strongly recommend that States Members reject the proposition which seeks to find reasons to procrastinate when it comes to addressing the climate emergency.
“It is believed that the proposition is based on false premises and that, if adopted, it would result in the opposite outcome to that which it seeks to achieve, the result being a continued dependence on fossil fuel markets.
“Additionally, the proposition is at odds with previous decisions of the States Assembly, the views of the local community, and international efforts to address the challenge of energy market instability as well as the climate emergency.
“Furthermore, it disregards the public funds that have already been utilised in the production of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap.”
Pictured: Debate is due to take place in the States Assembly in the coming week.
He adds: “It is important to recognise the reputational risk to the island if the Assembly decide to suspend the drive to net-zero which would be at odds with global efforts.
“Internationally no other jurisdiction is concluding that the solution to unstable fossil fuel prices is to pause their efforts to decarbonise – many have concluded quite the opposite.”
The Assembly is due to debate Senator Ferguson’s proposition, followed by the Government’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap proposal, next week.
On Friday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the war in Ukraine could continue to the end of 2023.
Express previously spoke to Steve Skelton, the Government's Group Director, Strategy and Innovation, about the new Carbon Neutral Roadmap...
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