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A new campaign aiming to get islanders of all ages and walks of life talking about climate change and the part Jersey should play in combating it is springing into action today.
To kickstart the 'Climate Conversation', the Government has launched a new website and begun sending out invitations for a new Citizens' Assembly on Jersey's carbon neutrality commitment.
9,000 random invitations have been sent out today for people to register their interest to be a part of the Assembly, which will beginning meeting for two months from 13 March.
It will see 45 randomly selected citizens - guided by experts - put together a report of recommendations for the States Assembly to take on board at the end of the year.
The website, meanwhile, will give all other islanders a chance to converse on the topic of climate change, and add their own input into the climate conservation and Jersey’s aim to become carbon neutral.
As well as the website operating as a forum for the discussion, they will also be training up 'climate conversationalists' from different sectors and areas of the community, to make sure the message is spread island-wide. The Lieutenant Governor is among the ambassadors of the project.
To help kick off the conversation, St. Lawrence School’s 'Eco Club' broke down the basics of the climate crisis in a short video.
Video: St. Lawrence pupils highlight some of the key climate talking points.
On the project, Assistant Environment Minister Deputy Jess Perchard said: “Climate change is a huge issue which will require us all to do things differently.
"During our Climate Conversation campaign, we want to hear from everyone in our community so that we can determine what we need to do to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
“Engaging our young people must be part of the development of climate solutions because they are the ones who will inherit the problems.
"If you’re aged 16 or older and you receive an invitation to join the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change, please do put yourself forward."
Pictured: The Lieutenant Governor is one of the Climate Conversation project's ambassadors.
The Assistant Minister added: “The easiest way to get involved over the next six weeks is to go to climateconversation.je, look at the weekly topic, discuss your ideas with your friends and family and share them with us.
"This is about determining what changes we are going to make as a community, so we’d like everyone to be involved.”
The initiative follows the States Assembly voting to declare a ‘climate emergency’ in Jersey in 2019.
The topic of climate change came to the forefront again recently when climate change-denying vandals painted over the Waterfront’s climate mural.
The mural is now being restored with a brand new look, which artist Ian Rolls teased would be “focusing on the conversational aspect of climate change rather than just stating it’s happening.”
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