Spotlight On Success: Jersey's Journey To Net Zero Carbon

"Innovation is putting into practice new ideas from a different way of looking at an issue or problem that results in a positive outcome. It comes from radical thinking."

William Church
William Church Consulting

Tell us a little bit about your idea and your journey to coming up with it.

The Government of Jersey has made a commitment to get to Carbon net zero by 2050.

GoJ departments are currently looking at ways to measure emissions but have no method to record / measure the good things that are already happening on the Island with regards to Carbon Sequestration.

Using digital satellite and high-resolution aerial imagery as appropriate, the goal of this project is to map and measure all land and habitats to a resolution of 10m to quantify the current carbon storage within the island of Jersey.

The objective is to then use that information to identify the opportunities to increase carbon storage as part of the island’s net zero journey. The project team will develop an outline plan of how Jersey could achieve net zero and the steps required to achieve that status.

Our online interactive dashboards will enable communication and sharing with all stakeholders – private, public and not-for-profit sectors – to engage with Jersey’s journey towards carbon neutral. Dashboards will present all project data, analysis and reports creating a Jersey ‘living map’ – a platform for future data updates and change analysis.

How will Impact Jersey help your project grow further? Where will you take your project after Impact Jersey?

Without funding from Impact Jersey this project would not be possible to progress at the moment.

The project will be evaluated and measured on whether it delivers on its objectives – to create a series of robust natural capital baselines (habitats and carbon storage/sequestration opportunities across Jersey), effectively communicate the results with stakeholders via an engaging online dashboard, and report on the island’s ability to reach its net zero goals and to set targets to reach net zero status.

If successful, these outputs will provide the robust science-led evidence and insight needed to create the strategy for Jersey’s carbon sequestration plan, which can be implemented alongside the island’s carbon emissions’ reduction plan – effectively covering the missing (but essential) side of the net zero carbon balance equation.

Along with the rest of the team that I have assembled to deliver this project, I sincerely hope that we will be able to play an active part with the Government of Jersey to map out progressive next steps.

What makes Jersey a great place for innovative projects?

Jersey is unique and its status as a self-governing Bailiwick that allows the island to innovate.

This project sets out to help Jersey lead the way on a managed journey to a net zero status.

The road to net zero starts with baselines and this project will create carbon storage and carbon sequestration opportunity baselines on the island, enabling the project team to understand the ability of the island to reach its net zero goals and to set targets to reach net zero status.

Jersey has a distinct advantage as a nation to achieve the goals that we have set due to its size and ease to get around.

What does innovation mean to you?

Innovation is putting into practice new ideas from a different way of looking at an issue or problem that results in a positive outcome. It comes from radical thinking.