A FAIR summary of Jersey’s progress so far on the Carbon Neutral Roadmap is “could do better.”
The term “roadmap” is the modern euphemism-of-choice for any sort of government plan, and used to imply that the route to be followed is agreed, that it is well-defined, that it will definitely lead to the destination of choice, and that getting there is simply a question of following the relevant signs. Enjoy your drive.
The newly published report of the Climate Council on Jersey’s progress to date shows that actually, the path to carbon neutrality is very different – not really a roadmap at all.
It is more like a ‘sat nav’ system which is currently calculating some fresh route options after the driver has taken a few wrong turns. There is jeopardy here though, in that every wrong turn we take means the likelihood of ever actually reaching our destination at all diminishes.
In fact, the Council’s view is that the route we have been following to date means the destination we were planning to get to by 2030 will not be reached.
We must now pick an alternative to navigate the “hard yards” of decarbonising transport, heating and waste, and we must move much more quickly.
That verdict is no surprise, given that the Environment Minister recently indicated he wouldn’t be pursuing a ban on the importation of ‘used’ petrol/diesel vehicles by 2030, and hinted a similar ban on ‘new’ versions may also be scrapped. His concern was partly one of control (Jersey gets its vehicles from the UK, so must follow what happens there) and partly the need for a ‘just transition’ – essentially that people on lower incomes can afford to make the necessary changes.
Rather than being a known roadmap, the path to carbon neutrality is much more akin to an exploration of a new territory, and to progress, we need to be committed to the cause. On that note, the Council reported doubts as to, “…whether climate action remains a consistent priority for Government, pointing to mixed messages, delayed decisions and a perceived gap between stated ambition and implementation.”
In their words, it seems since the States Assembly declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, and then agreed the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, the journey has become a “burden” – progress has slowed and doubt has grown. Political commitment has wavered and opposition has built.
The report’s verdict is that needs to change, and change soon – as otherwise the Island will miss out on an opportunity “to build a more resilient, competitive and confident future.”
