The Isle of Man Green Party says the island is falling significantly behind on its legally binding climate commitments.
It follows Tynwald voting to adopt the Government’s latest progress report on the Climate Change Plan 2022–2027.
The Green Party says the update identifies serious failures in renewable energy deployment. The Government’s target to install 20MW of local renewables by 2026 is listed as “in progress”, but the report separately states that “most infrastructure is not yet built”, meaning the target has effectively been missed.
The island’s 2030 policy goal of supplying 100% of electricity from carbon‑neutral sources is also now considered at risk.
Under the Climate Change Plan, achieving the 2030 electricity target accounts for 25% of the legally binding requirement to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% from 2018 levels.
Far Off Track
The Green Party says the island is “already far off track” and has written to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture seeking answers on four key points, including how Manx Utilities is being held accountable for missing the 2026 target, how lost progress will be recovered, what engagement has taken place with Orsted over its Mooir Vannin wind farm proposal, which could supply up to 100MW to the island, and the latest figure for renewable electricity generation.
The party says climate change is already having direct impacts on the island, citing the Ronaldsway Meteorological Office’s 2026 observations report, which highlights droughts and floods affecting farmers, increased coastal overtopping, and more frequent storm damage, with over £1 million spent repairing damage from storms Darrah and Eowyn.
It also warns that the island’s reliance on fossil fuels leaves households exposed to volatile global markets, with around 82% of electricity in December 2024 generated from gas at Pulrose.
By contrast, the party notes that solar power costs have fallen by 90% and onshore wind is now the cheapest form of electricity generation.