The environment minister says planning for the Isle of Man's future is about avoiding obvious mistakes and encouraging joined-up thinking.

John Shimmin has been considering the latest statistics which show the sea around the Island has become at least a degree warmer over the past century.

Mr Shimmin says within his department there is a great deal of interest and expertise when it comes to environmental protection.

But he is warning that slowing down climate change doesn't need knee-jerk reactions.

He told Manx Radio:

"We love living on the Isle of Man, it is a clean environment (and) we don't need to hit our people in order to make them suffer, just to try and reduce the carbon emissions.

"Everybody knows that there are far greater emissions elsewhere which cause far greater damage and pollution to the atmosphere.

"What we've got to do is try and encourage people to do the right thing. Make sure there is encouragement, because that saves them money and is good environmentally, but also to make sure that as we plan things now, and over the next five, ten and 20 years, we are bearing in mind all the factors which will be an influence."

John Shimmin will be on Mandate, from 7.30am.

(Image: A coastal scene, just north of Port Soderick).