Taxpayer to foot bill for Jersey's £300 million carbon neutral roadmap

Jersey's new plan to make the island carbon neutral by 2030 is set to cost at least £300 million paid for by the taxpayer.

Initially, the government will spend their £23 million grant from the Climate Emergency fund, but seem likely to introduce road taxes and commercial waste charges to help later projects.

This is according to a strategy created by a steering group of ministers and States Assembly members advised by experts.

It is chaired by the Assistant Minister for Environment, Deputy Gregory Guida.

One of the many recommendations is to create a Minister for Energy and Climate Change.

Carbon neutral is defined as reducing dangerous levels of greenhouse gases but cutting production and buying offsets which avoid producing harmful emissions.

Most of the islands emissions are from vehicles and heating systems fueled by gas, electricity and oil in homes and businesses.

Ferries and planes coming in and out of the island also contribute to the Bailiwick's emissions.

Farming and waste disposal adds to this burden further.

Jersey's emissions are relatively low at 3.8 tonnes of carbon per person compared to an annual 6.8 tonnes per person in the UK.

The plan is to cut harmful gases by more than two thirds compared to 1990's output by 2030 - a third more than it's 1990 levels at 35%.

By 2035, the aim is to reduce them further to 78%.

But the report admits it is way off track to reach zero emissions by 2030 or even 2050.

The international scientific community is warning that an 80% reduction is not enough to prevent global warming of under 2 degrees celsius by 2050.

More detailed plans will be released for consultation in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap in December, before being debated in the States Assembly in Spring 2022.