DEPUTY Hilary Jeune has been appointed Jersey’s first Energy and Climate Change Minister, and will represent the Island at the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt in November.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf delegated the responsibility to Deputy Jeune, who has already been serving as Assistant Environment Minister.
The new position was a recommendation of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, which was agreed by the States Assembly in April 2022.
Deputy Renouf said: ‘Creating this ministerial portfolio demonstrates how seriously the government is taking our responsibility to reduce emissions and to follow the trajectory of the Paris Agreement on a path to net-zero by 2050.
‘In these first months working together, Deputy Jeune has demonstrated an in-depth knowledge and understanding of this area.
‘Her background in scrutinising and advising international organisations on climate-change policies means she is well placed to drive forward our work with real passion and ensure Jersey accelerates its carbon reduction over the course of this term of government.’
Deputy Jeune said she was looking forward to ‘working closely with ministers, businesses, environmental organisations and all Islanders on our carbon neutral and net-zero ambitions’.
She added: ‘We’re thankful for our invite to COP27 which is further evidence of the respect shown for our carbon reduction efforts and plans.
‘It’ll provide an opportunity to share best practice with leaders from other jurisdictions, and to learn from success stories from other small Island nations.’
