ISLANDERS have until the end of this month to have their say on one of the biggest changes to transport in Jersey since the end of the railways.
The government is consulting people on the planned phase out of all new or used petrol and diesel cars to Jersey in four years’ time – and already more than 1,000 people have engaged with the process.
The plan – approved in principle by the States Assembly in 2022 – mirrors that of the UK, where the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak had pushed the start of the phase-out back to 2035, but the current Labour Government returned it to 2030 last year.
This is significant for Jersey because all new and second-hand vehicles for sale are shipped in from the UK.
The Jersey plan also proposes that it will no longer be possible to import or register all new or used small vans, or hybrid vehicles, from 2035. Dates for the phase out of other fossil fuel-burning and hybrid vehicles, such as trucks, are yet to be determined.
Classic and adapted cars, specialist vehicles like ambulances, and people moving to Jersey with a car are likely to be exempted.
Although Jersey’s States-approved ‘Carbon Neutral Roadmap’ – voted in almost four years ago – sets out this aim, the actual plan is not set in stone: hence the current consultation.
However, the plan is for the Environment Minister to make a firm decision on what should happen before June’s election. That would allow law drafting to commence, which would produce legislation to be debated by the next Assembly.
To pick the brains of as many people as possible, a team from the government’s Environment and Climate team is currently holding meetings and running pop-up sessions with a variety of Islanders, including schools, vehicle clubs and the motor trade.
So far, more than 1,000 Islanders have engaged with the consultation.
Last week, policy principal Michelle Moffat and policy planning strategy officer Emily Knowlton from the government spoke with Year 10 geography students at Les Quennevais School to hear their thoughts.
There, students heard that 27% of Jersey’s emissions come from road vehicles, which is the largest producer by segment. They also heard that Jersey has signed up to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
Jersey currently has 116 public electric chargers of various powers and there is also a electric charger incentive scheme for households, which has been extended to the end of this year.
At Les Quennevais, the government team also dispelled ‘myths’ around electric cars, including that batteries can catch fire easily and end up as toxic waste.
The final public pop-up session will take place on Saturday 24 January at Coop Grand Marché in St Peter from 10 am until 1 pm.
To take part in the consultation, which ends on 31 January, click here.
Reflecting on the session at Les Quennevais, geography teacher Jack Dearman said: “I think it was a fantastic experience. It is always great when external speakers can come in, and it has really influenced the kids and shown them what’s happening in the real world in Jersey.
“We have lots of conscientious pupils here and our curriculum is designed so that we look at big projects here, such as the wind farm, and this is just another step for them to become well-rounded geographers.”
What they thought …
Ethan Tring (15)
My takeout is that electric cars are more reliable, better for the environment and easier to maintain. However, I see some cons too: some people prefer driving a manual and the thrill of driving a manual, and the sound that it makes.
Toby Humphreys (14)
I think it might be a good thing, but it could also be a bad thing, as we won’t be able to sell our normal petrol cars to get our money back. You will have to buy new electric cars if we want to keep on using our own transport. But switching to electric is always a good thing for the environment.
Joshua Bailey-Walker (14)
Moving away from petrol and diesel cars will be healthier for the environment and planet. There are barriers in the opinions of other people, but I think it would be good if the government went ahead and did this.
Noah Sturrock (14)
The message from today is that electric cars are better for the environment than petrol and diesel cars. That’s a good thing but I think that it could be more expensive. The government will definitely have to think about how affordable this move is for families in Jersey.
