19 January 2009
The Minister for Planning and Environment has set up an Advisory Group on Environmental Sustainability (AGES) to assist in mapping out the environmental challenges and opportunities faced by the Island over the next decade and to help find the solutions to tackle or capitalise on these.
AGES was drawn together informally by the Minister for Planning and Environment in January 2008 as a discussion forum and resulted in the development of an Environmental Manifesto - ‘Keeping Jersey Special – Vision for a Greener Island’, which provided the impetus for the Keeping Jersey Special initiative launched by the Chief Minister in June 2008. It is co-chaired by Sir Nigel Broomfield and Dr Lee Durrell.
Senator Cohen, Minister for Planning and Environment said “The Advisory Group brings together leading policymakers and practitioners from government, industry, environmental organisations and others to work together to identify key environmental priorities and to agree upon ways of meeting those challenges. It brings a much-needed strategic focus that will help ensure that the environment is truly at the heart of the States agenda.”
Sir Nigel Broomfield who has been nominated to co-chair AGES with Dr Lee Durrell added
“The quality of Jersey ’s environment is a vital component of the Island ’s future success. We believe that Jersey is well placed to respond to environmental challenges and opportunities but we will need support and understanding from all sides. A good example is the necessity to address to the wide ranging questions around energy that the forthcoming Energy White Paper will tackle.”
The Advisory Group will work alongside the Jersey Environment Forum (established in June 2003). The Jersey Environment Forum provides constructive criticism to the Minister for Planning and Environment on specific policy issues, bringing together the areas of interest that each member represents. AGES will provide a wider perspective and focus on strategic environmental issues across the States of Jersey as a whole.
Nigel Querée, Chair of the Jersey Environment Forum said ”By ensuring close liaison and regular dialogue between AGES and the Jersey Environment Forum , the combined work of the two groups will ensure that environmental issues remain a high priority for the States of Jersey’s operations and planning at all levels. “
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Please click here to view 'Keeping Jersey Special – Vision for a Greener Island’
Notes to Editors:
1. For further information, please contact Senator Freddie Cohen on 07797714 550
2. The Advisory Group on Environmental Sustainability was previously referred to as the Environment Think Tank
AGES is an independent group dedicated to improving the foundations for environmental policy and initiatives through collaboration across multiple sectors.
It focuses on issues that are likely to confront policy makers; the group will foster collaboration among industry, environmental organisations, academia and government. The active involvement of these four sectors in all aspects of environmental policymaking-from identification of a problem through the crafting of recommendations to implementation of a policy-produces robust and practical solutions to the environmental challenges that face Jersey
This philosophy, and its facilitation through the activities of AGES, means that leading policymakers and practitioners are able to work together to identify key environmental challenges and to agree upon ways of meeting those challenges
Membership of AGES reflects its guiding philosophy: that all relevant parties must be involved if the complex issues surrounding environmental policymaking are to be resolved. Members are:
Political
The Chief Minister
Minister for Planning and Environment
Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment Officer
Chief Executive Officer, Planning and Environment
Director of Environment, Planning and Environment
Assistant Director – Policy and Awareness, Environment Division, Planning and Environment Other
Sir Nigel Broomfield (co-chair)
Lee Durrell, Honorary Director, Durrell (co-chair)
James Godfrey, Chief Executive, RJA&HS
Hugh Forshaw, Past Chairman, Jersey Environment Forum
Paul Masterton, Chief Executive, Durrell
Chris Ambler, Chief Executive, Jersey Electricity Company
Mike Liston, Independent
Bruce Willing, Independent
Alick McIntosh, Commercial Director, IceCap Trading
Ian Christie, UK-based independent sustainability advisor
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