The chair of the Isle of Man Climate Change Transformation Board has highlighted the next steps to tackle environmental issues after over £40m was allocated to fighting climate change in the Budget.

Daphne Caine MHK felt it was important to look forward.

In terms of goals for the future, she said: ’Setting an ambitious interim target for 2030 along with bringing forward the five-year action plan and a roadmap of the Isle of Man’s journey to net zero are the major milestones we must reach early in 2022 to see us embark on the next leg of our decarbonisation journey.

’We should also hopefully receive confirmation that the Paris Agreement will be extended to the Isle of Man. This international treaty that requires us to set an ambitious target for 2030 and further demonstrates the island’s commitment to reaching net zero.’

A total of £42m was set aside to tackle climate change. Mrs Caine said: ’It’s a good amount that demonstrates this administration’s determination to deliver on our climate commitments.’

On the £25m allocated for the Climate Change Fund, the Garff MHK explained she looks forward to discussing with the board how best they can use it to support the community to make the transition to low-carbon living.

She added: ’Of the £42m quoted, £9m is actually under Department of Infrastructure control for flood management, which is hugely important from a constituency point of view for Laxey but also other communities around the island, who are at risk from inland or coastal flooding.’

The rest includes a £3m boost to the Environmental Protection Fund, which had fully committed the £10m previously allocated over the past two years. This funding has enabled projects such as the Green Living Grant Scheme.

When asked if this funding would be enough, she said: ’I think it is a fair amount as things stand at the moment with all the demands on the public purse.

’We are all aware that funding has been stretched by coronavirus costs over the last two years and it is important funds are allocated to the community, the economy and environment, including climate change, to ensure we achieve a sustainable balance.

’For me, it’s important we make recommendations to Treasury to make the best use of the allocated budgets to have the highest possible impact on lowering our carbon emissions and to bring people along with us. A just transition is at the heart of what must be achieved, where no one is left behind.

’That will require targeted use of funding, with a mixture of grants and loans for people, according to their financial situation.

’However, in the short term, much of the money is likely to be needed to help us transition our electricity generation infrastructure.’

Areas where the government has made progress so far include making the goal of the island meeting net zero a part of Manx law and the development of the Green Living Grant.

Mrs Caine added: ’The past five years have seen much of the necessary groundwork being done, including enshrining the net zero goal in law along with a public authority duty to support delivery of climate goals with a fair transition.’

During the Budget debate, Middle MHK Stu Peters called the funds ’impossible to justify’.

To this, Mrs Caine said: ’There are many pressing issues we face as an island, coming out of a pandemic and post-Brexit, but we are in a climate and environmental crisis, as agreed by Tynwald to the motion I tabled back in 2019.

’The Isle of Man is starting from a position where our emissions have been increasing over the past 30 years while our neighbours have reduced theirs.

’The island failing to take action on climate change would be damaging to our reputation and impact our economy.

’Transition will bring many co-benefits, including to our economy.

’Not making the necessary changes is unthinkable if we want to build a better, greener island and achieve Our Island Plan’s ambition to deliver a secure, vibrant and sustainable future for our island nation.’