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Jersey people are twice as ‘green’ as their UK and Guernsey counterparts, producing around half as many tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, it has been revealed.
New figures show that the average islander emitted 3.46 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2015, while Guernsey and UK people were responsible for 6.08 and 7.62 respectively.
The news comes as the Department for the Environment reveal that Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions have hit their lowest point in nearly 30 years.
Statistics verified by international climate scientists showed that the Island’s carbon levels have dropped by as much as 40% since 1990.
But what do the full set of statistics show?
The significant decrease can largely be attributed to improvements in Jersey’s energy supply. Switching to low-carbon French nuclear and hydroelectricity helped cut emissions down from a peak of 324.5kilotonnes (kt) in 1992 down to 2015 levels of just 25.1kt. Energy use per person also showed a downward trend over the last five years.
Pictured: A breakdown of Jersey's carbon dioxide emissions, which have fallen by 40% since 1990.
Transport emissions reflected a steady decrease since 2001 due to passenger cars becoming more fuel efficient. The category was still responsible for being the Island’s largest polluter, however, having produced more than 160kt of greenhouse gases in 2015.
Agriculture emissions saw a steadily decline due to reducing numbers of dairy cattle, and there was also a general downward trend in the business category.
The amount of carbon dioxide produced through waste management was found to have increased to 11.1kt – the result of an increasing population and the subsequent emissions from their sewage sludge.
The long-term downward trend – disrupted only once in 2013 when Jersey was forced to generate its own power after its oldest interconnector failed – places the Island in line with global progress towards carbon reduction targets agreed under the Kyoto Protocol. Since 2005, Jersey has been an International Convention on Climate Change signatory, and has had its green credentials monitored yearly by independent UK experts.
Pictured: Agricultural emissions dropped due to dwindling dairy cattle numbers.
While the statistics showed positive improvement in Jersey’s green credentials, the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, warned against complacency.
“Jersey has set itself an ambitious target of reducing our emissions by 80% by 2050 against a 1990 baseline. I am cautiously optimistic that we are starting on this journey well. However, there is much to do and still a long way to go,” he said.
“We’ve got to consider the carbon implications of the decisions we all make if Jersey is ultimately to be successful in playing its part in reducing global carbon emissions, and thereby avoiding the most serious consequences of climate change.”
The Jersey Energy Forum welcomed the findings, but added that, “…the real work starts now.”
Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce commented that he was "cautiously optimistic" about Jersey's environmental progress.
A spokesperson said: “If we just sit back and applaud ourselves for the figures we are currently registering we will not make the changes we need to the ways in which we live on our Island. The probable risks, should we fail to mitigate climate change, will adversely affect everyone. We must all play a part."
They are now calling on islanders to “play a part” to “keep our Island green and special for this and for future generations. Without the support and cooperation of every person living on the Island, no amount of laws, suggestions or guidance will suffice.”
The Forum also praised the States for its cultural shift towards eco-efficient builds, such as the new St Martin’s and Les Quennevais school developments, but called on them to continue publishing figures, “…so that we can continue checking our progress.”
The Department are now in the process of implementing a number of measures outlined in their Pathway 2050 plan – the results of which they say are slowly being reflected in emissions statistics:
They also hope that new energy standards for buildings and the continuing fall in the price of electric cars will have a positive effect.
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