The economy and the environment will benefit from initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) will this month ask Tynwald to approve its first ever detailed strategy for reducing emissions.

‘Greater Efficiency, Cleaner Energy, Resilient Economy: A climate challenge mitigation strategy for the Isle of Man’ will be supported by a series of action plans identifying short and longer term priorities.

The basic principles outlined are:

• Reducing energy demand
• Improving energy efficiency
• Substituting fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives.

Creating more energy efficient buildings and encouraging greener forms of transportation are among immediate priorities, outlined in the first action plan, which accompanies the strategy.

‘The Isle of Man Government’s Agenda for Change identifies that the Island must tackle climate challenges to secure a sustainable future,’ said Ralph Peake MHK, Member of DEFA with responsibility for Environment, Safety and Health.

‘Reducing emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 is a target set by Tynwald.

‘Data we collect on six greenhouse gases shows that in 1990, we produced 9.55 tonnes per person per year, so the target is to reduce that to 1.91 tonnes by 2050.

‘Our first action plan focuses on the need to improve the efficiency of our buildings and our surface transportation – cars, motorbikes, shipping etc – which together create almost half of our emissions.’

Initiatives to improve the energy efficiency of homes so they don’t need heating will create jobs and cut fuel bills, the strategy says.

Meanwhile, emissions caused by transportation will be reduced through greater use of technology and working practices, reducing the need to travel; encouraging greener forms of travel, such as cycling, through improved infrastructure and incentives; encouraging use of public transport and encouraging the purchase of more efficient vehicles in the short term and new forms of technology in the longer term.

Mr Peake said: ‘The transition to a low emissions energy infrastructure will also require the substitution of fossil fuels with clean electricity.

‘The first action plan seeks to increase electricity consumption at the expense of imported vehicle and heating fuel. If successful, subsequent action plans will require increased electricity generation capacity.

‘When Manx Utilities’ combined cycle gas turbines and diesel fired plant are decommissioned, it is envisaged they will be replaced with low emission generation methods so that the overall emissions reduction target would be achieved by 2050.

‘The first action plan lays the foundations that will enable us to make further progress in reducing emissions.’