Climate change: Paris Agreement extended to Isle of Man

Tue, 28 Mar 2023

A landmark international treaty on climate change has been formally extended to the Isle of Man.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty, agreed by 195 countries to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C, above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.

The move means the Isle of Man’s climate action will contribute to the UK’s commitment to reduce its emissions by at least 68% on 1990 levels, by 2030.

The intention to extend the Paris Agreement to the Isle of Man (and the UK’s other Crown Dependencies) was announced at COP26 in Glasgow by the former Climate Minister Greg Hands, after a full review of the Island’s plans to reach net zero by 2050.

Following a formal request from the Isle of Man’s Chief Minister to the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the letter of extension to the Isle of Man has now been signed by the UK Foreign Secretary and deposited to the United Nations, which finalises the process.

Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan MHK, said: ‘It is a hugely significant milestone that will see the Isle of Man stand shoulder to shoulder with nearly 200 countries on the serious matter of climate change.

‘The formal ratification by the UK clearly demonstrates how seriously the Isle of Man takes its obligations on climate change and I would like to thank the Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart, and the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly for recognising this and affirming and supporting our request.’

 

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