The Chief Minister insists his administration remains committed to its climate change response.

Howard Quayle has accused the island’s Green Party of making ’misleading and inaccurate comments after it claimed the government had shown ’utter contempt’ for its declared climate emergency.

The Greens said the government’s push for fossil fuel extraction in Manx waters had exposed the climate emergency as ’empty words’.

But Mr Quayle said: ’The government remains committed to its response to climate change.’

This summer the Chief Minister made a pledge for the island to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and for a Climate Change Bill to be laid before Tynwald.

Last October, Crogga was granted a licence to explore oil and gas deposits off the Manx coast. It must seek further approval before any exploratory drilling can take place.

Now the Department of Infrastructure has announced it is seeking technical and fiscal advice to assist in the ’exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons’.

Mr Quayle said: ’At this stage permission has been granted for the company to explore what opportunity may actually exist.

’There is no will, permission or intent from the government or Tynwald to pursue fracking. It is inaccurate to state otherwise.’

Mr Quayle said the island is in a phase of transition as it moves towards a more ’eco-friendly’ future.

He said: ’We are committed to the Isle of Man playing its part as a responsible global partner as we consider innovative approaches to supporting people to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient.

’The island’s approach will be ambitious. We must give Professor James Curran and his team the time to complete their research and compile their findings.

’Our mission to be net carbon zero by 2050 will see less reliance on fossil fuels as new technology will play its part over the coming years to meet this ambitious goal.’