05 November 2021
The Government of Jersey – in agreement with the parties in attendance at the pre-COP webinar held on 20th October – have issued the following Communique.
Communiqué
The Government of Jersey welcomed Island partners [on 20th October 2021] to an inaugural webinar, ‘Climate Change and Small Islands – Leveraging strengths to contribute to global climate objectives’. The webinar provided a forum for discussion on mutual challenges in respect of climate change, and the planned government response, in advance of - and aligned with - the objectives of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
Jersey’s Minister for the Environment, Deputy John Young, and Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, were joined by representatives from four Islands:
Antigua and Barbuda: HE Ms. Karen-Mae Hill, High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda.
Bahrain: Layla Sabeel, Senior Environmental Specialist of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment; Salman Rashed Al Abbasi, Third Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Isle of Man: Daphne Caine, Chair of the Isle of Man Climate Change Transformation Board and Member of the House of Keys; Richard Lole, Isle of Man Climate Change Transformation Director and Chief Executive of the Department for Environment and Agriculture.
Madeira: Pedro Miguel Correia Sepulveda Monteiro, Head of Climate Action and Sustainability Unit at the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, Regional Government of Madeira.
Representatives from Guernsey and St Helena also provided ongoing support in the margins of the webinar, recognising that one of the biggest and most positive steps forward for Small Islands is to work together given our very similar issues.
Climate Change Discussion and Next Steps
Representatives agreed that the forum provided an excellent opportunity for like-minded Islands to share policy ideas, identify areas for future co-operation, and discuss ways to overcome challenges to carbon neutrality and climate resilience.
Participants agreed that a constructive narrative had taken place in relation to the common climate change objectives and challenges faced by Small Islands.
It was agreed that all represented territories share a common purpose and common threats as Small Islands and are committed to combatting climate change by acting in partnership wherever possible.
The Representatives agreed that, where attending, they would meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow to continue constructive political-level conversations on opportunities for knowledge sharing and joint working.
It was agreed that all represented Islands would continue to share best practice on the topics discussed, with a view to reconvening in early 2022.
The Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, said:
"In advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow we were delighted to convene a group of similar jurisdictions to discuss climate change challenges and objectives through a live webinar. We have set an ambitious carbon reduction agenda and the webinar was a chance for us to share ideas and learn from one another. Climate Change is an urgent global issue, and Jersey is committed to working with other jurisdictions to share ideas and collaborate on effective solutions".
Dr Louise Magris, Head of Sustainability and Foresight, said:
"The webinar emphasised our commitment to tackling climate change and was an opportunity for Jersey to demonstrate leadership and innovation, to learn from other like-minded jurisdictions who are facing similar challenges, and to broaden further areas for future co-operation and relationship-building. Climate change is a global issue and our best chance of tackling it comes from working together across the international community".
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