Government must take far more robust action over climate change.

That’s according to the Isle of Man Climate Change Coalition (CCC), which says it is imperative residents fill in the Climate Change Mitigation strategy consultation document.

More than 500 responses have already been received by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to its consultation, which closes on Friday next week (May 17).

The responses will inform the course the government takes in responding to climate change.

But the coalition, a group of 20 environmental, humanitarian, charitable and political groups, said government should take the lead and state this is an ’emergency’.

The group describe government’s current targets as ’woefully inadequate’.

’The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) calculates that in order to keep temperature rises to 1.5 degrees we must by 2030 reduce emissions to almost half of 2010 levels, three times more than the March 2019 Tynwald Strategy aims for.

’The Isle of Man must lay out a pathway to adopt and achieve this cut in emissions and undertake to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in accordance with the IPCC 2018 Special Report.’

They added: ’Our government must lead by example in policy and in action, in procurement and investment across all departments, and declare an emergency.

’The global scientific community tell us there are only 12 years left to prevent 1.5C warming and that any warming beyond represents a threat to the future of humanity.

’Acknowledging that the world is experiencing a climate emergency mandates urgent and rapid action by all countries.’

And they have called on government to ban the extraction of new fossil fuel deposits.

’In order to slow down global warming we need to keep 80% of all remaining fossil fuels in the ground.

tipping points

’If we don’t â?? if we dig up the coal and oil and gas and burn them we will overwhelm the planet’s physical systems, heating the earth far past the red lines and tipping points observed by scientists.

’Each piece of legislation and governmental decision about this matters: our government have to protect our land and waters from fossil fuel exploitation.’

The coalition wants to see immediate investment in major renewable energy infrastructure such as wind and solar farms.

’We cannot wait until the gas power station is decommissioned, which must be no later than 2030,’

They said the current focus on fossil fuels must now change: ’It’s a huge transition in our system.

’Government must step up by utilising direct grants, loans and loan guarantees, and tax incentives for individuals and companies to implement the MUA’s policy to incentivise renewable energy generation.’

And they called on the government to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 ’in accordance with current science, and outline a clear pathway, with interim percentage emissions reductions, from now to 2050’.

They added: ’It is unacceptable that our emissions are rising and we have made no progress to getting below the benchmark levels of 1990.

’Current interim targets of reducing emissions by 125,000 tonnes per annum by 2030 are entirely inadequate, they would leave Isle of Man emissions by 2030 at 120% of 1990 levels.

’This would be at the end of the crucial 12 years in which the world has to take drastic action.’

The CCC proposes a Future Generations Climate Change Act ’to embed the principles of sustainable development into every decision that government takes, and to provide a legally binding act of Tynwald which will bypass the short-termism of our five year electoral cycle, and provide a guarantee that successive Manx governments must prioritise a move to a net zero carbon Isle of Man.’

renewable

And they said government must amend the Electricity Act to enable community owned renewable energy projects.

The CCC said: ’The IPCC report of 2018 states there is a short time window to take action: and that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by 45% by 2030, to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.

’The CCC are concerned that DEFA’s new climate strategy must be robust and ambitous enough to meet this challenge.’

CCC spokesman Peter Christian said: ’There needs to be a clear roadmap, with timescales, intermediate targets, annual reviews, and accountability. A few token gestures and vague initiatives won’t do the job.’

The group said that the coalition’s ever increasing membership demonstrated the climate crisis is now a mainstream issue.

’The newly launched Student Climate Network also reflects the overwhelming concerns young people have about our stewardship of the planet.’

Calling on residents to have their say, they said: ’The climate consultation gives you the chance to make our government listen.

’You must not let this moment slip away.’

â?¢ The form is at consult.gov.im.

Select the Climate Change Consultation option.