Middle MHK Stu Peters wants an urgent review of all Net Zero targets and budgets.
Mr Peters said he wants this to be done for the benefit of all residents with a more pragmatic approach to climate change.
His motion for the December Tynwald sitting will call for the government to review the targets and budgets with the aim of strengthening the Manx economy.
Speaking to Manx.News, Mr Peters said he wants members to “have a look at what the options are, and spending millions of pounds that we’ve not got on something with without a definite outcome is a complete waste of money”
He added: “We ought to be spending on the economy because we’ve not got enough money to do all the things that we want to do already.
“Ten million quid spent on improving the roads would give an immediate benefit, £10 million spent on education or health would show an immediate benefit, £10m quid spent on climate change is going to do nothing.”
Independence
While Mr Peters says he wants the island to be self sufficient in terms of energy production, he’d “rather have half a dozen wind farms than have an interconnector”, citing concerns that if England is suffering with energy capacity, it would not provide the island with power if we also were facing an increase in demand.
However, he believes that the private sector, rather than the public credit card, is better suited to delivering energy independence.
He added: “I mean, to me, the dream is that we find gas at Crogga and we keep the Pulrose power station running.
“I visited a few a couple of months ago and said, You know, I believe that this is being phased out. Is it all tired out? Is all the equipment knackered?
“No, the equipment’s all fine. It could run for decades. The only reason that they’re stopping it is because they’ve outlawed gas from 2030”
Transition
The Middle MHK said that while the UK is accepting gas as a long-term transition fuel, the island was ideologically wedded to ending its use and that this was a mistake.
He said: “In Tynwald we are there to represent the people of the Isle of Man. We’re not there to appease Greta Thunberg or the World Economic Forum or the World Health Organisation and the trouble is that we’re trying to strut the global stage as key players in all this.
“We’re not, we’re the Isle of Man. We’re a little place that nobody knows, even where we are, in the middle of the Irish Sea and yet we’re trying to be international statesmen, but with taxpayers money, and that taxpayers money would be much better spent on our economy.”
Mr Peters’ motion will be debated by Tynwald members at the December sitting.
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