National parks to preserve biodiversity
The Channel Islands are home to remarkable marine and terrestrial biodiversity that is under threat. The main causes of biodiversity erosion are land artificialisation (urbanization), overexploitation of resources, invasive species, pollution and climate change. These factors affect the islands to varying degrees. Herm and Serk are not directly connected to the mainland and have little infrastructure. Traffic moves only on foot or by bicycle, and there are no street lights, all of which are conducive to biodiversity. There are also organizations working in the field. In Alderney, the Alderney Wildlife Trust is very active in wildlife protection (www.alderneywildlife.org). In Jersey, there are regular beach clean-ups, where volunteers can exchange a bucket full of garbage for a drink at a local shop.
The islands also have protected areas. The Jersey National Park was created in 2011 following a protest movement in 2009 against building projects, which took the form of a long human chain of 7,000 islanders along a beach. The park covers 16% of the island's surface area, and is a great place to explore on foot or by bike (jerseynationalpark.com). The National Trust is also present in the Channel Islands. The National for Jersey and the National Trust of Guernsey aim to preserve the islands' natural and cultural heritage. Their modus operandi is based on land acquisition, restoration and opening up to the public. Numerous sites and itineraries are thus accessible on the islands, such as Mare au Seigneur (St Ouen's Pond), or Jerbourg Field(www.nationaltrust.je and nationaltrust.gg).
More efforts to reduce waste
Waste management is based on selective collection and material recovery (composting of green waste) or energy recovery, notably via the Jersey sorting center and incinerator. The latter project was launched against a backdrop of increasing waste production. The incinerator has been oversized to handle Guernsey's waste. It would produce around 10% of Jersey's electricity needs. The least polluting waste is that which is not produced, and the best prevention lies in reducing waste at source. Zero plastic" initiatives are beginning to develop on the islands, in partnership with the Plastic Free Jersey organization(www.plasticfreejersey.com).
Pollution of concern in the Channel
The English Channel is one of the busiest seas in the world. Maritime traffic is a source of pollution risks, linked to possible spills of hazardous materials. For example, container ships filled with pesticides have run aground, and oil tankers have been involved in accidents. In addition to this pollution, effluents from land-based activities (agriculture, industry, domestic wastewater) contribute to the degradation of the marine environment, particularly contamination by plastics, pesticides and heavy metals. The Channel also suffers from historical pollution, linked to wartime ammunition dumps, as well as waste from the nuclear industry. Before the practice was banned in 1993, nuclear waste (from France, the UK and Belgium) was dumped in the Hurd's Deep, 13 km from Alderney, at a depth of 160 meters.
Facing climate change
The Channel Islands are threatened by global warming, which could result in rising sea levels, and a greater frequency and intensity of extreme events (storms, flooding). Rising sea temperatures contribute to the disruption of ecosystems, causing the northward movement of various marine species, notably abalone, which contribute to Guernsey's richness, and which are now found close to the English coast. Ocean acidification, linked to global warming, could lead to a decline in plankton, the basis of the food chain. Global warming could also exacerbate political tensions over fishing zones between Great Britain and the countries of the European Union. The latest report by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), published in March 2023, warns of the need to take urgent, coordinated action to limit the rise in temperatures (+1.1% compared to the pre-industrial era), in order to guarantee the conditions for a livable world for mankind in the future.
The island's transport sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, with the Jersey and Guernsey vehicle fleets and air traffic also contributing. The supply of electricity by submarine cable from France has helped to decarbonize the energy mix of both Jersey and Guernsey (via a link between the two islands). The Guernsey et Manche (GeM) project, which aims to connect Guernsey electrically to the Cotentin peninsula, could reduce the activity of the island's thermal power stations. Another electricity interconnection project could see the light of day, the FAB project (France - Alderney - Great Britain) between Cotentin and Devon. The least emissive energy is the one we don't produce. The most appropriate solution could be to control energy consumption. This is based on various elements, such as the energy efficiency of buildings, the development of low-tech solutions, and sobriety in terms of energy and transport. At the end of 2023, Jersey announced that it was considering building a giant offshore wind farm (1GW) off its coast to achieve energy independence.
On the agricultural side, Jersey's dairy farms are experimenting with new ways of measuring and reducing methane emissions from cows.
Last but not least, the banking sector, which has a strong presence in the Channel Islands, probably has the largest carbon footprint in the area, due to the financing of fossil fuel projects. A subject (still) to be explored.
