In 2016, Tynwald agreed to a 2016-2020 Climate Change Strategy, which outlines a roadmap to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels and the Government has been working to deliver the targets in this strategy since its launch.

Since then, the progress of this strategy to date has been published in an action plan 2016-2020, highlighting that 30 actions have been completed or are ongoing.

Since this strategy was launched, the United Nations has stated that climate change is the defining issue of our time and that urgent action must be taken.

A UN climate report published in 2018 stated that globally we must cut emissions by around 50% in 12 years to avoid catastrophe of greater than 1.5C temperature increase.

We’ve recognised that homes, transport, electricity generation and commercial properties were the top four contributors to the island’s emissions between 1990 and 2017 and we must think carefully about how we can quickly and effectively reduce these areas along with other areas contributing to our carbon emissions.

As a globally responsible nation, we require far reaching future actions and the government will shortly be launching a consultation on a new Climate Change Mitigation Strategy 2020-2030.

This is your opportunity to help government make crucial decisions to implement local solutions which deliver the necessary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

We are faced with an energy trilemma of balancing energy security, affordability and minimising the impact on the environment.

This is a vital piece of work and we have worked closely with stakeholders, government departments and lobbyist to deliver a number of proposed ideas for your feedback which will help shape our island’s future for years to come.

To date, the government has already begun trialling a number of carbon reducing initiatives.

The Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2020 has been a truly cross government initiative and DEFA has worked closely with DoI and Manx Utilities to deliver it.

Government has commissioned the construction of a number of low-energy public sector houses at Clagh Vane, following the successful trial of ’passive houses’ at Janet’s Corner, in Castletown.

DoI will also be putting a low emissions policy for surface transport and electric vehicles before Tynwald this month and Manx Utilities will be reporting on how they will deliver the new Climate Change Mitigation strategy with future home generation feed-in-tariffs, electric vehicles and electric heating for buildings.

Both myself and government recognise that climate change is urgent and the need to act now has never been so important.

We are committed to shaping out an effective, ambitious and realistic roadmap going forward to enable us, as an island, to make all the necessary changes to address climate change and will be consulting on ambitious interim targets and annually reporting progress.

We have made initial progress in our climate change action plan 2016-2020, but to remain on target to deliver the 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 there are still a number of significant changes that we need to make.

Many of these necessary changes will be lifestyle choices, and will mean that the way in which many of us are so used to living will need to change.

An example of this is the temperature of our homes.

In 1990 the average house temperature was around 14C. Now this has increased to over 18C as people get used to living in warmer homes, resulting in an increase to the amount of carbon emissions being used. If we all turn down our thermostats by 1C each household will save around £75 a year, and we can annually reduce our own carbon emissions by 340kg, or across the island by 14,600 tonnes.

In many ways, reducing our emissions by lowering our energy consumption saves money and often makes us more comfortable, healthy and profitable.

Around 80% of the homes which we expect to be used in 2050 have already been built and in the next few months I will be bringing forward building regulations to further improve the energy efficiency in buildings.

Everyone can do their bit to help contribute, whether it’s turning down your thermostat when possible, to switching to LED light bulbs and ensuring your home is well insulated.

We are rightfully seeing increasing calls from a number of concerned people on the island, including lobby groups, and children who are showing an active interest in their future.

As always the government is open to hearing from these individuals, and I would encourage these groups to feedback their thoughts through the consultation when it’s published next week.

For all our documents on climate change, visit: www.gov.im/climatechange