Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure - P.2020/127
The States are asked to decide:
Whether, after consideration of the Policy Letter titled 'Mitigate Climate Change -States of Guernsey Climate Change Policy & Action Plan', they are of the opinion:
1. To agree:
a) to legislate for a target of net zero emissions (or carbon neutrality) in relation to greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere by 2050, and an interim target of reducing such emissions by 57% on 1990 levels by 2030, and
b) to impose a legal requirement for annual statements, by the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, for all emissions for Scope 1 (all direct on-island emissions), Scope 2 (all imported electricity emissions), and Scope 3 (emissions relating to exported waste and off-island travel and cruise ships) with effect from the end of 2021,
as set out in paragraphs 2.5 and 7.3.8 of the policy letter.
2. To approve the definition of net zero (or carbon neutrality) set out in paragraph 7.2.4 of the policy letter, encompassing Scope 1 emissions (all direct on-island emissions), Scope 2 emissions (all imported electricity emissions) and Scope 3 emissions (emissions relating to exported waste and off-island travel and cruise ships) for the purposes of the targets referred to in Proposition 1.
3. To approve the Climate Change Action Plan, as set out in Appendix A to the policy letter and summarised in section 10 of the policy letter, including the actions contained within that Plan, and to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to incorporate those actions, and any future or amended actions, into the recovery action plans to be developed under the Recovery Strategy, and into any future subsequent strategies and/or plans.
4. To direct the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure to bring a review and update of the Climate Change Action Plan to the States at least once every 2 years, as set out in paragraph 10.1 of the policy letter.
5. To approve the approach to climate emissions set out in the emissions hierarchy in paragraph 7.4 of the policy letter, prioritising steps in the following order: avoid, reduce, replace, offset.
6. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure:
a) to prioritise opportunities to increase local carbon sequestration (the removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere) in both the terrestrial and marine environments, and
b) to consider opportunities for off-island offsetting, including off-island sequestration,
as set out in paragraphs 7.5.8 and 7.5.15 of the policy letter.
7. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to ensure that any carbon offsetting arrangements that Guernsey enters into will meet internationally recognised standards as outlined in paragraph 7.5 of the policy letter.
8. To note that Guernsey's Strategy for Nature Action Plan, attached at Appendix C to the policy letter, and the Climate Change Action Plan are aligned so as to ensure a coordinated approach to nature, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
9. To direct the Committee forEconomic Development to investigate and appraise economic opportunities that will or could arise from transitioning to a low carbon economy and will or could support sustainable economic recovery in line with the Recovery Strategy.
10. To direct the Overseas Aid & Development Commission, in consultation with the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, to prepare and publish climate change guidelines which set out how international development projects can contribute towards Guernsey's carbon offsetting goals, in accordance with paragraph 7.5.11 of this policy letter, and which integrate the principles of the Climate Change Policy with the work of the Commission.
11. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure:
(a) to investigate the necessary steps to establish an independent advisory body to provide advice to government and others on climate change matters, and:
(b) to report back to the States on those necessary steps and the timeline to achieve the same by the end of 2021,
as set out in section 8 of the policy letter.
12. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to investigate by the end of 2021 the feasibility of establishing a form of Citizens' Assembly, as set out in section 9 of the policy letter, to support the Climate Change Action Plan.
13. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to bring a policy letter to the States of Deliberation before the end of 2021, which sets out proposals to adapt the Island to the effects of climate change as set out in section 6 of the policy letter.
14. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to bring proposals for the more effective delivery of the Integrated Transport Strategy to the States by the end of 2021, and in so doing to have particular regard to the reduction of Scope 1 emissions, as outlined in paragraph 4.13.6 of the policy letter.
15. To agree that Guernsey's policy on the importation and sale of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is aligned with that of the United Kingdom so that a legally binding phase out of the sale of ICEVs is required by 2035 (or earlier if the date is brought forward in the United Kingdom) as set out in paragraph 10.13.1 of the policy letter.
16. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to investigate and necessary steps that would allow for the importation of only the latest Euro standard vehicles to the Island, with certain permitted exceptions, and to bring proposals to the States by the end of 2021.
17. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure and the Policy & Resources Committee to investigate any necessary steps required to comply with the obligations on parties under the Paris Agreement, as outlined in paragraph 3.8.4 of the policy letter, including any technical, administrative or legislative steps necessary in order to be able to work towards requesting extension of the UK's ratification of the Paris Agreement to Guernsey (and to consult with Alderney and Sark regarding extension to the Bailiwick, as undertaken previously for international agreements), and to give delegated authority to the Committeefor theEnvironment & Infrastructure and the Policy & Resources Committee to take the necessary steps to extend accordingly.
18. To direct the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to ensure that Climate Change Policy and the Climate Change Action Plan, and any revision or replacement of that Policy or Action Plan, remains aligned with the commitments of the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) on sustainability and biodiversity, and to work towards becoming an active member of GLIPSA as outlined in paragraphs 8.10 and 8.11 of the policy letter.
19. To direct the preparation of such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above decisions.
The above Propositions have been submitted to Her Majesty's Procureur for advice on any legal or constitutional implications in accordance with Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees.
