Jersey 'not on track' to meet climate targets

Jersey is "not currently on track" to meet its 2030 climate targets, and "the window for effective corrective action is narrowing", a panel of experts has said.

An independent report from the Climate Council has said the island would not meet its aims for reducing carbon emissions unless it changes its approach.

The group said it had reviewed the government's progress and said the work done currently has only achieved minor success.

Deputy Hilary Jeune said the government needed to "put an end to policy uncertainty and delayed action and commit" to its goal, which she said with "stable funding and transparency" was achievable.

The panel blamed the failings on some subsidy schemes skewing towards wealthier people, untaxed high-emissions activities and a failure to bring in user-pays policies.

It made a series of recommendations and said the island could do better, if it made a clear commitment to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles, and made people pay for disposing of waste.

In a statement the Climate Council said "every year of delay increases costs, deepens risks and limits the choices available to future governments.

It said the island could unlock "cleaner energy, lower long‑term costs and new economic opportunities that many larger jurisdictions still struggle to access" with consistent leadership and a fair, coordinated approach.

It added: "The transition is not a burden; it is one of Jersey's greatest opportunities to build a more resilient, competitive and confident future.

"Success is still firmly within reach, but only if action continues, and accelerates, now".

Deputy Jeune said: "The expertise and experience of the panel should give us all confidence in their conclusions, which while highlighting the challenges to Jersey's 2050 ambitions, also offer long-term solutions".

"Through flexibility and practical actions, we can protect future generations of Islanders from the impact of climate change."

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