The Manx Labour Party is giving the Environment Minister a few tips on going green.

It comes after Geoffrey Boot faced criticism over his views on climate change.

In an interview with local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne, he suggested that if the Manx government acted on the climate it could mean taking money away from healthcare.

And he described climate change as something that ’may’ happen, rather than a certainty.

More than 90% of scientists who study the issue say climate change is definitely happening.

Indeed, Mr Boot’s comments came just days after the the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that there were just 12 years left to take action to curb climate change before global temperatures would exceed a 1.5C rise, significantly worsening the risks of drought, floods and extreme heat.

Environmentalists in the Isle of Man accused Mr Boot of being a climate change denier.

’It’s a bit surprising that someone with those opinions would want to be environment minister,’ Alice Quayle of the Manx Labour Party said.

’However, we’ve put together some examples to help him get his head around the idea that many of the key actions needed are also big steps to help people’s health.

’If anyone within government would like to steal these ideas, please do. Feel free to make a cut-out-and-keep list to stick up at work: they are all tried and tested, fairly straightforward actions.’

The Manx Labour Party says people can all do something positive for the climate but added that this means government must play its part as well.

’Individuals can’t install offshore wind turbines or change large-scale settlement patterns,’ said Ms Quayle.

’However, we can all follow the IPCC advice and make greener travel choices, invest our money wisely, eat less meat (but more local), and vote for people who understand the need to act.’

The party issued a few tips for policy-makers:

1. Insulating homes and improving the housing stock.

The last Manx housing condition survey showed that a lot of homes of the elderly, and also the private rented sector, were in poor condition and not well insulated.

If these were better insulated, that would improve health and wellbeing, reduce fuel bills, and create employment. If Tynwald revived the mothballed Landlord and Tenants Bill, this would be a lever to start on this.

2. Use the planning system to make it easier to walk and cycle about.

Compact, attractive, walkable towns and villages are good places to live, and also attract investment: e.g. the city of Portland, Oregon has been overrun with fit young entrepreneurs on pushbikes since installing its cycle lane system.

3. Improve air quality in towns.

Reducing the need to drive, and switching to lower carbon technologies, can improve air quality and reduce problems like asthma.

3. Improve public transport.

The main thing that’s needed is some good quality facilities at Lord Street bus station site (loos, cafe and an indoor waiting area). This isn’t rocket science.

4. Making space for wildlife.

Any green spaces and parks can include plantings for bees, birds and butterflies. This helps them adapt to climate change and makes our environment more fabulous in general.

After Mr Boot was criticised, the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture issued a press release listing what was being done to cut emissions of carbon dioxide in transport, heating and electricity generation.

The Manx Labour Party has one representative in Tynwald, former minister David Cretney MLC.