In common with many government projects, the strategy, which aims to deliver a framework to make Jersey carbon neutral by 2030, had been halted as resources were diverted to the Covid-19 response. However, director for environmental policy Louise Magris told a Scrutiny panel last week that the Council of Ministers was still 100% behind the plans and that work would recommence this month.
She explained: ‘We have just had an agreement from the Council of Ministers that they remain as committed as before to the importance of the work, and that is a statement for us to restart this programme.
‘The work with the citizen’s assembly will be a hybrid approach with some face-to-face meetings and some meetings held online. These are planned to take place after the Christmas period and we will have a period of consulting with the wider public. That work will begin in October and take us up to Christmas.’
Environment Minister John Young added: ‘The Council of Ministers is 100% behind this and I welcome that. This is the biggest emergency around. In recent months we have had to concentrate on Covid, but this [renewed focus on the strategy] is great news.’
The States unanimously adopted the Carbon Neutral Strategy earlier this year and agreed to put the views of Islanders at the heart of the decision making.
Potential carbon-neutral policies that have been mooted include hikes on road-fuel taxes, a £3,500 car scrappage bonus and policies to reduce the use of gas and heating oil.
