Nearly half of carbon goals behind schedule

Jersey wants to cut emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels

Nearly half of Jersey's goals to become carbon neutral are behind schedule, according to a new report from the government.

The island's Carbon Neutral Roadmap (CNR) was published in 2022 and set out 32 policy areas designed to help the island prepare for net zero, with phase 1 due to be completed by the end of 2025.

With six months to go, 13 of Jersey's CNR goals are behind schedule or at risk, with one further target cancelled altogether.

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce said things were moving "in the right direction" but "the pace of this change must accelerate if we are going to meet our goals within the agreed timeframe".

'Stark reminder'

Luce said the report served as "a stark and important reminder that there is still a long way to go in tackling the climate emergency".

He said "subsidies and incentives alone" would not be sufficient to keep the island on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

"Decisive action such as restricting the importation of fossil fuel vehicles and heating systems" was needed, he added.

The CNR goals measure progress on initiatives in areas such as transport, heating and emissions.

The roadmap does not measure Jersey's progress on reducing carbon emissions themselves.

Jersey is aiming to cut emissions by 68% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2050.

But emissions had only fallen 48% by 2023 - putting the 2030 target at risk, the report said.

Other delayed areas included home-heating incentives, carbon offsetting and updating by-laws.