Climate push will need Treasury funding says DEFA minister

The politicians behind a new climate change mitigation strategy say they will need the backing of Treasury to achieve their aims.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot and Manx Utilities chairman Dr Alex Allinson are spearheading a cross-governmental push to cut the Island’s carbon emissions.

DEFA has launched a 69-question consultation to gather public feedback on issues such as energy efficiency, electrification of vehicles, and transition to low-emission power sources.

It’s hoped the feedback will help outline what steps the public will be prepared to ‘buy into’ to reduce emissions by 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050.

Key targets include: 

- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generated on Island to close to zero.

- Reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases from buildings close to zero.

- Powering all surface transport with ‘ultra-low’ greenhouse gas emission technology, with the exception of ‘machines of cultural importance’, such as the heritage railways   and for motor racing events.

- Land use practices will conform to principles of ‘sustainable development’, to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.

Alongside the survey, the Department of Infrastructure has published a report titled ‘Moving Towards Low Emission Travel - A Policy for Surface Transport and Electric Vehicles’.

It outlines aims such has having at least 10,000 electric vehicles registered on the Isle of Man by 2030 and the DOI transitioning to an electric fleet.

Manx Utilities have also released a progress report on the development of tariffs for home energy, electric vehicles and electric heating for buildings.

Once DEFA’s consultation has closed, the feedback will be factored into a new strategy with actions and targets, which will be brought forward for Tynwald approval.

But Mr Boot has cautioned that without adequate financial support, meaningful progress will be difficult.

He sees this new strategy as a continuation of the mitigation plans agreed by Tynwald in 2016, which extend until 2020.

According to the Minister, ‘hard’ targets will be set for 2025 and 2030, with annual DEFA reports scheduled charting progress.