Deputy Rob Ward said putting too much weight on Environment Department figures – which put the cost of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 at between £300 and £600 million – was dangerous and did not express the reality of the investment to residents.
By releasing the figure without due context, the general public was not being made aware of the benefits and positive outcomes that would result from such spending, the Reform Jersey Deputy said.
‘Gross figures such as this do not take account of the savings that would be made with more environmentally friendly policies, nor other important factors such as improved air quality and general health benefits for Islanders,’ he explained.
Deputy Ward has urged Islanders to see the figure as a large but necessary investment in the Island’s future – a figure that he says is relatively low when compared to other areas of governmental spending.
Spread over ten years, the estimated cost would contribute only a small amount to the States budget of £1 billion, and, it has been argued, minimise the costs in other government departments such as health and waste disposal.
The States have allocated £5 million to begin tackling issues related to climate change, and although it is not yet known how this money will be spent, Deputy Ward believes that more investment is needed if the Island is to make its way towards carbon neutrality.
‘It’s about ensuring a legacy for the younger people of Jersey,’ he said.
‘We need to invest in the initial changes that we make so that we can see their positive outcomes and show Islanders that investing in the planet’s future is something that benefits us all.’
When asked about the feasibility of the Island’s 2030 deadline, Deputy Ward said that he believed it was reachable, as long as the States and Islanders themselves were committed to making the necessary changes to reach the goal.
He added: ‘We are a small island, and if we take an intelligent approach to the ways in which we implement the changes we can go a long way to ensuring that we are a carbon neutral society by that date.
‘It is the younger generation who will be affected by the implications of climate change on our Island, and it is something which the young people of Jersey need to be involved in in order to ensure its eventual success.
‘At the moment, all the States have done is produce a plan. We will need to see the details of this before we can tell whether it will be effective.’
