Jersey’s on-Island greenhouse gas emissions statistics for 2020 have been published online as part of the UK’s annual inventory.
Globally, annual inventory statistics are always released two years in arrears due to the complexity of the data and the nature of analysis.
The figures show:
- In 2020, Jersey was responsible for emitting 356,808 tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, down from the 2019 figure of 418,837 tonnes
- Between 1990 and 2019, Jersey’s emissions reduced by 36%, but between 1990 and 2020 emissions dropped by 46%, representing an additional 10 percentage points drop in just one year
- In 2019, the transport sector was responsible for 42% of Jersey’s total emissions, while in 2020 transport was responsible for 36% of Jersey’s total emissions. Transport emissions fell by almost 50,000 tonnes between 2019 and 2020.
- Despite a significant increase in home-working in 2020, Jersey’s residential emissions did not rise, but in fact continued to decrease
Assistant Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jess Perchard, said: “It was, perhaps, inevitable that transport emissions in 2020 would fall due to the periods of lockdown and isolation, but it’s pleasing to see the fall in emissions.
“This shows that we can make significant lifestyle changes when urgently required. We should take this learning into our future carbon-reduction planning, encouraging workplaces to continue to be flexible regarding carbon-reducing working arrangements as well as encouraging more active travel.
“This is, still, just a start and there is no room for complacency. The recently-approved Carbon Neutral Roadmap will ensure we not only continue to move in the right direction but can feel optimistic about our ultimate aim of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.”
