 I S L E O F M A N F R I E N D S O F T H E E A R T H C A A R J Y N Y T H E I L L E L L A N V A N N I N |
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Campaigns - 10:10
Across Britain individuals, businesses, organsations and government bodies have promised to cut their CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010. Individuals & businesses Find out how to cut your individual, group or business CO2 by 10% in 2010? Click here Tynwald 10:10 success Tynwald responded to our 10:10 campaign in December. Bill Henderson MHK sponsored a motion asking for an assessment to see whether it would be possible for Isle of Man Government to make 10% cuts in 2010 - the motion was passed and a report is due for March Tynwald. We'll keep you posted on this website. On this page: * Our sample letter/e-mail to MHKs & MLCs * Individual responses forwarded to us (and our verdict on them) * Bill Henderson MHKs's motion, and our original, stronger draft. (Bottom of page) * MHK finder - Click here for a full list - and e-mail addresses * For our Tynwald 10:10 news release - Click here * Bishop of Sodor & Man joins 10:10 campaign - Click here |
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| We asked supporters to send this letter to
MHKs: Dear [insert name here], I was very interested to
hear
the Tynwald debate on the endorsement of the Copenhagen campaign and
pleased that the motion was passed unanimously.
This is a major step forward in unity in the face of challenges from Climate Change that lie ahead but the motion was purely an endorsement of action to be taken by others. I am asking you as my MHK if you would be willing to support and help promote a motion for Tynwald to sign up to the 10:10 campaign (http://www.1010uk.org) to make a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 10% during 2010. This would be a forceful statement of the IoM’s Government commitment to the rhetoric of the debate last week and would be an indication to other nations of the seriousness with which Tynwald views the pending humanitarian disaster of Climate Change if no immediate action is taken to drastically reduce carbon emissions. Please could you let me know what actions you are taking as our MHK to support carbon reduction on the Island. I look forward to your reply. Best wishes, [Your name] |
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| Responses we received: Rushen Phil Gawne I fully support the introduction of any meaningful target and would of course support a motion which commits us to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions during 2010. I am more concerned however to ensure that we actually achieve significant cuts in carbon emissions rather than just talking about it or stating worthy aims. I’m concerned that Tynwald and government should be doing much more and will do my utmost to encourage this. It’s important to recognise the great work being undertaken by DoLGE, DoE and many other departments who are endeavouring to cut carbon emissions and cut their energy bills. Things I’m already doing: * New low carbon DAFF HQ will significantly reduce my Department's carbon footprint. * I'm promoting local food procurement through daff so reducing food miles and am looking to develop more sustainable farming and fishing practices. * My department is exploring the opportunities which short rotation willow coppice might supply for sustainable energy supply. * I’m a member of Co-Min’s Energy and Climate Change Committee, which is currently looking into a wide range of renewable energy sources but particularly on and off shore wind farms.  Our verdict - thumbs up! Juan Watterson I am genuinely supportive of the [10:10] principle, and its purpose to make people more climate aware and goal driven. (I’d have to see the wording of the motion, but I am happy to support a motion that says Government should make the extra effort to deliver a 10% cut in CO2 emissions during the course of 2010. The 10:10 website says “by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010” I can sign up to that.) I would like to think that I would struggle to reduce my carbon emissions throughout 2010. I have no money to invest (saving for a wedding), but take steps to ensure my lifestyle is as low carbon as possible: * Energy efficient boiler * Well insulated home, inc. double glazing (not suitable for cavity wall) * Constant recycler * Avid user of public transport who tries to walk everywhere * Buys local, reducing food miles. In terms of my Governmental responsibility, during recent years as Member for Estates and Housing, I have constantly pushed for cavity wall and loft insulation for all public sector housing (now done). Throughout the Government estate, I have been trying to consolidate properties so that we have fewer overall. In addition, small schemes such as changing the lighting system at Chester Street Car Park will have long term savings and reductions in carbon footprint. Coming up, I will be sponsoring a Bill to amend the Building Control Act to improve the environmental and sustainability standards that we hold builders to. I hope that this will assure you of my ongoing commitment to the environment generally and more specifically that the work that I undertake within DLGE retains an environmental and sustainable focus so that the Island can play its part in reducing carbon emissions. Our verdict - thumbs up! Quintin Gill - Paper response received. I am delighted to advise as Chairman of the Manx Electricity Authority our commitment to reducing our impact upon the environment is an integral part of our activities. As you will be aware the Authority participates in the Council of Ministers Energy and Climate Change Committee which is aimed at providing direction and strategy for the security of energy (including renewable energy) and energy conservation measures. Our role has included project managing an appraisal of the viability of onshore wind generation. Our own services promote energy efficiency within the community aimed at ensuring customers are able to make well informed choices on their use of energy within their own homes. Furthermore we also support the Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing and Technical Sector Industries here on the Island to facilitate and encourage efficient use of energy. In partnership with the Department of Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry we continue to develop ‘Bright Ideas’ an energy saving platform aimed at providing simple behaviour-changing energy advice for domestic customers. The Authority provides central services to customers on the Island and continues to support and deliver Government policy. In particular, I can report the Authority has been successful in achieving the government target of reducing our own non-generation carbon emission by 20%. [A Tynwald requirement from 2006.] We continue to deliver and improve upon our public services and participate within the Isle of Man Government policy designed to prioritise and address improvements for the benefit of all.  Our verdict - thumbs sideways! (Lots of supportive spin; nothing about new cuts.) Ramsey Anne Craine - No response Allan Bell - No response Ayre Eddie Teare - No response Michael David Cannan - No response Peel Tim Crookall - No response Garff Steve Rodan Thank you for your e-mail. I believe the Isle of Man must play its full part, and I will support a motion in Tynwald backing the 10:10 Campaign. In my role as Speaker, I am outwith decisions of Government in respect of local measures to address climate change, but do have a role in the management of Tynwald buildings where energy conservation and efficiency measures are continually being driven forward. Our verdict - thumbs up! Glenfaba David Anderson It made a change to have everyone on the same side in Tynwald for a change!! It was a very positive debate and some very salient points were made by Phil Gawne and John Shimmin. It was good to get a unanimous vote. I think even the doubters are being less public in putting forward their view. However there are many in our community to be 'won over' including some high profile local authority members. I am working with Phil and John to achieve targets - they are both members on the government Energy and Climate Change Committee of the Council of Ministers and they are to bring forward proposals that I'm sure I will be supporting. In relation to the 10:10 campaign, I know we are doing everything we can in the DOT to work to reduce CO2 emissions as highlighted in our service delivery plan http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/transport//dotsdp2009.pdf on pages 15 and 16. This work is ongoing and will be carried forward to future plans. Our department will have major challenges in this area but our officers are taking advice from the government's Energy Initiatives Officer, Peter Longworth, in what steps we can make to help in the many locations the Department has plant and buildings. We will have many challenges in the coming months but I assure you this remains a key area for government to target. Our verdict - thumbs sideways! (General, but non-specific support) Middle Martyn Quayle [...]To answer your questions, I have been supporting our Minister for Local Government and the Environment and the Government’s position which is committed to reducing carbon emissions. However, the Chief Minster made it clear in Tynwald recently that he believed that it was an unrealistic target to cut 10% during 2010. As Minister for Tourism and Leisure, my Department has also been playing its role in cutting emissions and increasing energy efficiency and I have copied this to my Secretarywill arrange for you to have the details in due course. Our verdict - thumbs sideways! Martyn Quayle is also Minister of Tourism and Leisure. This was the Departmental response, written by a civil servant: In its current Service Delivery Plan the Department has signed up to the Government Strategic Aim on Climate Change and Sustainability – to ensure the Island can respond to the impact of climate change and plan its services and infrastructure developments to safeguard the Island. The Department aim is to develop and review policies that take into account the long term impact of climate change in relation to the Island’s infrastructure by March 2011. In 2005 the Government set itself the challenging target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010. The current 2008/9 figures for the Department show a CO2 reduction of 18%, or 1,200 tonnes since 2004/5. At the Department we have an Energy Officer Working Group, a number of Energy Champions, are continuing to monitor in detail our energy use and develop Energy Conservation projects. An example of the latter is at the NSC where the recovery of waste heat from the adjacent MEA power station is utilised to supplement the gas boilers in the heating of the main building, pools and hot water systems. Our verdict - thumbs up! Onchan Peter Karran - No response Adrian Earnshaw - No response David Quirke - No response Douglas North Bill Henderson I fully support FOE's drive for a 10% cut CO2 emissions. We must do all we can for our planet. As you may already know I have been making calls in Tynwald and the House of Keys to the DOLGE Minister to have 'a cross Government Estate energy assessment'. This easy, cost effective method could establish where Government could make energy savings in running its estate. Better still, the more savings we make, the smaller our Carbon Footprint becomes. Each Building and area could be assessed, we have the staff, and an 'energy efficiency action plan' drawn up. Staff for the particular area would 'be in on the assessment' and could help drive 'the plan' forward. Ultimately I believe a directive needs to come from the Council of Ministers and Tynwald if necessary. I will place place Parliamentary Questions to this effect for the next Keys and Tynwald. Given the changing climate, even the most sceptical of people must see that the less we pollute the planet, then that has to be a good thing. The biggest challenge however is for everyone to take the message on board personally, treat it seriously, especially politicians, industry leaders and world leaders. There is ' It wont effect me in my life time' attitude in the business and political world and this has to be broken down. Its a bit like the perception of 'the earth is flat' and the 'sun revolves around the earth' brigade centuries ago. But they had to change their attitudes. More science and facts and figures have to be produced to help this trend. Some, feel akward, or threatened in addressing this problem. They dont know anything about it. That needs to be addressed in more forth right ways, but not intimidating or threatening - just cold, hard factual messages. The trouble is because this is not in many peoples 'main stream thinking' many think it wont effect them or wont believe it is happening right now. On a larger scale, world leaders are more concerned with business and economies and growing the same. They will not want to do anything that will harm their economies as they see it, or 'suck in resources'. The message has to be sold 'big' to them so that they factor this into their thinking and planning. They have to commit to the fact that this is a serious issue and requires serious attention and action. I certainly believe that if everyone does their bit, it has the real potential of achieving the 10%. Our verdict - thumbs up! John Houghton - No response Douglas South David Cretney - No response Bill Malarkey - No response Douglas East Phil Braidwood I totally concur with your sentiments about reducing carbon emissions to prevent an increase in global warming, however,CO2 accounts for roughly 2/3 of global warming the other 1/3 attributable to Methane which you are probably aware has considerably greater global warming potential than CO2. Methane is found in huge quantities as hydrates in deep Oceanic sediments and can be released by depressurisation or warming, it is also found in regions of tundra being encapsulated by the permafrost. I would recommend the book "6 Degrees", if you have not already read it, which goes through the scenario of a subsequent increases of 1 degree in temperature, 6 degrees is Armageddon for the Human race. I hope that from the research I have done on the subject you will realise that I am very conscious of our need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and to reduce our carbon footprint whilst not forgetting the problem of Methane. Our verdict - thumbs up! Brenda Cannell - Response received. Positive on both aspects. Our verdict - thumbs up! Douglas West Geoff Corkish Yes indeed a unanimous vote in Tynwald for government to aim to decrease its emissions in 2010. We should all be striving to achieve some reductions in everything that we do at work or at home. We are but a small nation but anything we can do we should. I fully support your aims as will the vast majority of sensible people who like me have been supporting a reduction in carbon emissions within our own homes for a long time. Continued good luck and success in your work! Our verdict - thumbs up! John Shimmin Thanks for your email and support. As you are no doubt aware the responsibility for the Environment falls to my Department and we are very keen to see the Island fulfil a worthwhile role in regards to Climate Change and to be seen to lead by example. The motion in November was an initial step, prior to my attendance at COP 15 [UN Copenhagen Climate Summit], but I see other stages of Tynwald support being achieved as we move forward. As a result of the debate we now see a number of questions being asked in the Keys next week, which can only be helpful in raising public and political awareness. I am a personal signatory to the 10:10 campaign and am working with others to see the best way of introducing a suitable motion to Tynwald, which I would expect to be no later than February 2010. Please continue your efforts to promote this critical issue as widely as possible. Our verdict - thumbs up! Castletown Tony Brown - No response From Hansard - Tynwald - Wednesday, 16th December 2009 Global warming - Reducing CO2 emissions by end of 2010 - Amended motion carried The Chief Minister (Mr Brown): Thank you, Mr President. I want to make sure that nobody is misled over what is being said here. I am always honest about things and I am not going to pull any punches. 190 Because of the actions Government has already taken, we will not be able to achieve a 10-per-cent reduction in CO2 emissions for Government Departments by the end of 2010. We need to be absolutely honest and clear about this – no point playing about. That is the reality of the situation. The reason is because Government has already actively, and continues to actively, invest substantially in reducing its CO2 emissions. In the last four years we have reduced it by 12 per cent. Even though we have taken considerable actions to do it, it has taken four years to achieve 12 per cent. I am sorry, with the greatest respect, let us be real about this! We cannot achieve another 10 per cent in a year. It is impossible. What I can say, the commitment I have and the commitment executive Government has, is to continue to invest and undertake as much work as we can to reduce our CO2 emissions as effectively as we can, because also Government – the Council of Ministers, Departments – recognise the importance of carrying out this work. So there is not an issue on that. I am quite happy with the motion and happy with the amendment, because it only asks us to assess the actions that would be required to reduce it. I can tell you, my understanding, based on expert advice from within Government, from people who are living this, are very keen to progress this and are being supported substantially by an Energy Committee in the DTI, by the Council of Ministers, is that they say this will not be able to be achieved because of the substantial actions Government has already undertaken. The more you take, the harder it gets to, then, on top of that, build another 10 per cent. I think it is disappointing, when there is not really any real recognition of what the Isle of Man Government has already achieved in four years. I find that a bit unfortunate, really, because we all have the same objective. Why? Because we are human beings and we live on a planet that is going to be affected by what is going on – although recent reports seem to indicate that, in fact, maybe it is just a cycle, but who knows? The issue is we know what is happening in the world. We know what is going on and we are committed to play our part. The MEA has substantially reduced CO2 emissions in the Isle of Man. Let me hear anyone saying, ‘Well done, Isle of Man Government and MEA, because of what you have done!’ Why not? Why is it always the negative aspect – ‘we are not doing it’? Yes, we are! We are investing substantially, not just in Government, in our Departments and Statutory Boards, to reduce our CO2 emissions; again, we are substantially investing through grants, through the DLGE, by direct action in homes of pensioners, insulating their properties, doing all sorts of things, which we know are reducing their CO2 emissions and, importantly, reducing their need to use more energy, which then has a knock-on effect for the MEA. So I just wish there were a bit more of a balance in all of this, to say, yes, there is a commitment by Government, they are doing what they have said they will do, and they are trying to achieve it. We do have a target – a target that was agreed in 2005, which we know we cannot achieve, which is to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2010. We know we cannot achieve that, but what we have done, by having that target, is work very hard to reduce it as much as we can, and I think we have done a great job – when I say ‘we’, collectively throughout Government – to reduce our CO2 emissions by 12 per cent in four years. That has taken a lot of investment and time. There is still a lot more to do, and we are going to have to be realistic about how we deal with this. We could pour millions into technology that will actually cost us a lot of money and save us very little. I am sorry, I am not going down that road at the expense of other issues we need to do. What we have to do, which is what we have to do first, is target the areas causing the greatest problem first, to reduce our CO2 emissions. That has been achieved in most cases. There is still more to be done, but we do – and I would ask Members to be realistic about this – have to make sure, while actively, positively moving forward to reduce our CO2 emissions, the reality is we cannot, I am told, reduce it by a further 10 per cent by the end of 2010. What I can say is we are committed to do as much as we can to reduce our CO2 emissions that during 2010, 2011, 2012, whenever it goes on, and to continue to do that. But Mr President, that being said, I have no problem in the Council of Ministers reporting on what actions would be required to reduce it to that level, because I think you will find that the actions will be quite substantial, and could have a detrimental effect in certain areas for us to achieve that target. I think it will be helpful for Tynwald and the public to know the implications of taking such actions in such a short time, but what we do need and we have got is a commitment to continue to reduce our CO2 emissions, and to build on that and look at alternative ways of generating power and alternative ways, like putting, for example, panels on roofs and so on, and, yes, where we can, and where it is appropriate, looking to exempt them from planning – in some cases, it is not appropriate, because it blocks people’s views, but in other areas it could be appropriate. So there are lots of things we can do to encourage people to invest in reducing their CO2 emissions. But this motion is very much focused on Government Departments which have already taken substantial actions and will continue to do that, sir.  Our verdict - thumbs down! Tony's comment denying climate change is man-made is highlighted in italics. Malew and Santon Graham Cregeen - No response yet MLCs Bishop Robert Paterson - Bishop Robert is supporting the campaign personally and in the Diocese of Sodor & Man - Click to see joint press release Our verdict - thumbs up! William Corlett (Attorney General) - No response yet Dudley Butt I have now signed up [to 10:10] and I will support any [10:10] motion before Tynwald. Our verdict - thumbs up! David Callister - No response yet Clare Christian - No response yet Alan Crowe - No response yet Alex Downie - No response yet Eddie Lowey - No response yet Juan Turner - No response yet George Waft - No response yet |
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| Bill Henderson's 10:10 motion: Motion carried.
The Hon. Member for Douglas North (Mr Henderson) to move: That the Council of Ministers should assess what actions would be required to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by activities carried out by Government Departments by 10 per cent by the end of 2010; and that the Council of Ministers should report back to the March 2010 sitting of Tynwald its conclusionsabout (a) the measures which would be required to achieve this and (b) the measures which Government could reasonably and practically put in place to achieve this target. Amendment by Mr Juan Watterson: Mr President, being circulated to Members of the Court now is a copy of my amendment. It just adds at the end of Mr Henderson’s motion, which I fully support: ‘; and further that the Council of Ministers should report back in early 2011 on what percentage carbon dioxide emissions reduction was achieved during 2010.’ |
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| FoE's original draft motion: This motion is a draft and is likely to be
changed further before being presented to Tynwald.
'In order to demonstrate Tynwald’s commitment to reducing the Isle of Man’s carbon emissions to a safe level by 2050, as well as to reducing the costs of energy used by Government, Tynwald is of the opinion that: a) CO2 emissions across the Isle of Man Government Estate should be cut by 10% by the end of 2010; and b) each Department should report progress towards this objective at four-monthly intervals, demonstrating evidence of a successful 10% carbon reduction in December 2010.' |
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| Other campaigns | |
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 T o g e t i n t o u c h w i t h u s p l e a s e c o n t a c t : P h i l C o r l e t t : p h i l . c o r l e t t @ m a n x . n e t o r 0 1 6 2 4 6 7 3 4 8 4 |
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