Concerns have been raised about biodiversity and the Jersey government’s environmental commitments, with calls for nature to be given a central role in its strategic policies. Members of the Jersey Climate Council have also warned that reaching net zero by 2050 could require substantially greater annual investment than the current Climate Emergency Fund provides.
Biodiversity concerns
Deputy Chair Hilary June, who chairs the Environmental Oversight Committee, said the minister’s draft Common strategic policy did not take the natural environment into consideration.
The panel is working with Le Hegarat on changes intended to address the issue.
Jeune said biodiversity needed to be “front and center”.
Cost of reaching net zero
Professor Liz Bentley, a member of the Jersey Climate Council, suggested that Jersey would need to spend £10m a year in the Climate Emergency Fund, rather than £4m, to reach net zero by 2050.
The board recognised the financial pressures facing the government but said delaying action on climate change would cost more in the long term.
“You need to look at it over decades, not just a four-year budget. It’s about long-term investments.”
Mr Le Hegarat said ministers needed to be “very cautious” about spending.
It was not possible to say how much it would cost to reach net zero by 2050, but investing in the fund was considered a positive way forward.
Follow BBC Jersey ×, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
