We are currently running a consultation to find out your thoughts to help us set our Island’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as an interim step to achieving net zero by 2050.
This consultation is about our interim target and whilst it gives indications as to the combination of actions needed to progress towards net zero, the actual and proposed actions and their precise timing will be determined through other detailed work streams, most critically on future energy generation and security.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges faced by the modern world. Nations around the globe are making changes to reduce their emissions to limit the potential impacts on sea level rise, extreme and unpredictable weather events and, in the worst affected areas, the ability to grow food and live. In recent years we have seen the effects of climate change for ourselves, with significant floods and droughts.
To limit these effects we must keep global warming to below 1.5°C. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their 2018 report recommended that, to stay below 1.5°C, global emissions of CO2 would need to fall by about 45% (from 2010 levels) by 2030. However, global progress has been slow and this year the UN’s Emissions Gap Report stated that 55% reductions are needed to stay on the 1.5°C pathway.
Although we are a small Island nation we are among the higher per capita producers of greenhouse gases globally. On average, each person in the Isle of Man is responsible for 8.3t of CO2 equivalent emissions per year, compared to the UK’s average of 6.8t and the global average of 4.7t. The UK has made significant reductions through the decarbonisation of their electricity generation as they moved away from coal, plus some benefits from changes to their vehicles and property efficiency.
To make sure we hit our net zero by 2050 target and comply with the Climate Change Act, we must by 1st April 2022 set an interim target showing our intended rate of reduction of the Island’s emissions.
Over the next 10 years, the majority of our electricity generation infrastructure will need replacing as it comes to the end of life. The work of the Future Energy Scenarios project has identified that this can be replaced with renewable generation and an extra interconnector, without significantly increasing the overall replacement cost.
This interim target will show how ambitious and committed our Island is to transitioning to a low carbon society, which has financial, social, environmental and reputational implications.
Participate in the consultation now.
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