The distinguished scientist who has been appointed to lead the island’s climate change action plan says we are well-placed to show the world what can be achieved.

Professor James Curran, who was awarded an MBE for his services to the environment in 2007, insists the action plan to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 will be ’practical and achievable’.

And he believes by the time we reach net-zero, ’life will be very much better’.

Professor Curran will lead the climate emergency consultative transformation team, made up of Jane Poole-Wilson MLC, Ralph Peake MHK, representatives of government departments and climate change specialists.

He told the Manx Independent: ’I’m very much looking forward to it.

’It is a big challenge but to my mind a really useful and a really important one.

’I’m surrounded by great people who are really up to the job so I’m very positive about it.’

He explained his remit is to prepare a personal report on the action plan to address climate change.

’There’s absolutely no question it will involve significant and quite deep change in many public services, in many businesses and indeed in individuals’ private lives,’ Professor Curran said.

’But is my job to try to make sure that the action plan, the recommendations and the advice on the action plan, are achievable.

’So we are hoping to come up with the necessary actions to take the island to net-zero and we will judging those actions in terms of how they should be sequenced, what technology is ready and waiting, what technology is commercially viable - it’s about moving on the right technologies at the right time.

’But we will also be looking at the risks of not achieving certain outcomes and we will also be looking at the necessary funding, be it public or private.

’So there are many elements to actually trying to deliver a report that is as practical and achievable as possible.’

He added: ’I would expect that’s what any good government would want advice on so it can make decisions in the knowledge that it’s still going to be a challenge and that the whole people of the island need to be behind it - it needs good leadership, it needs good governance - but it’s realistic.’

Previously, administrations have dismally failed to meet pledges on green targets.

There was a commitment to have 15% of energy from renewables by 2015 then 20% by 2020. It’s currently 6.6%.

New era

But Professor Curran said: ’I’m not really wanting to go back into history.

’This is a new era we are entering where it is widely accepted that we are facing a climate emergency.

’The Paris agreement sets some very clear ambitions. I sense there now is commitment and ambition.

’I will certainly be working on that basis.

’I come from Scotland where the government has committed to targets and has actually met those targets and it continues at the moment to meet those targets.

’So it can be done, there are others around the world that show it can be done.

’I’m working from the starting point of being absolutely certain that the Isle of Man can make ambitious commitments and meet them.’

So how will the island look in 2050, if the net zero target is achieved?

Professor Curran said: ’My belief based on good evidence - and this isn’t just for the Isle of Man but in every country in the world that choose to follow that pathway - is that by the time we reach net-zero life will be very much better.

’We will have clean industries, clean businesses.

’We will be basing a lot of our industry on the circular economy so there will be much more recycling and reuse of materials and products built to last, better and to be modifiable and upgradable and updatable.

Atmosphere

’We will have a much cleaner atmosphere - there will be far fewer polluting emissions.

’We will have far stronger natural eco systems services. We will have a better natural environment.

’We will be producing more agricultural produce locally so we will be eating more healthily.

’We will be taking more exercise through active travel.

’And we will have at least stopped the progress of climate change so we will avoid the extreme dangers of out of control climate change in future.

’I am absolutely convinced life will be very much better.’

And he added: ’I think you are very well positioned to show the rest of the world how it can be done.’

Douglas North MHK Mr Peake said he was ’delighted to be on the team’.

Asked about the conflicting and very divergent tensions of a government addressing climate change on the one hand but promoting on the other the TT and polluting and fuel-guzzling cruise ships, Mr Peake replied: ’TT has zero TT so it has at least shown where the future is going.

’Cruises ships - well, that’s an international debate.

’I think we need to start with ourselves to lead by example.

’The debate about the cruise liner terminal was before this so I think a lot has changed in the last six months, in the world.

The world’s attitude has changed towards climate change in the last six months. That’s been picked up by the Chief Minister.’

Howard Quayle didn’t exactly rush to declare a climate emergency, though, it was pointed out.

Mr Peake replied: ’True, you know my views.’