Energy Efficiency - is the Government serious?

1 August 2003

A six-month study of energy policy by the Cabinet Office, followed by the Government's White Paper on energy policy, highlighted the central importance of energy efficiency to the achievement of significant UK greenhouse gas emissions. With the publication of a second consultation paper from the Treasury on energy efficiency released today how serious is the Government about achieving the step change in energy efficiency that it has committed itself to?

Chief Executive of the UKBCSE David Green comments:

“Today’s Treasury document poses so many apparently unanswered questions that one cannot help but wonder if the Government are really serious about enabling more consumers to invest in energy efficiency.

Without new measures that stimulate heightened demand for energy efficient products, homes and appliances then the UK will not achieve the aspirations set out in the Governments own Energy Policy. The result will be higher bills for consumers, and more carbon emissions. Firm action in the Budget must result from this next round of consultation”

The UKBCSE brings a wide range of major business in the UK energy sector. It works closely with the US and Australian Businesses Councils for Sustainable Energy, as well as E5 - the EU wide sustainability group, to secure progressive polices and measures that will stimulate action by businesses to tackle climate change.

For further information contact

David Green, Chief Executive, UKBCSE
Tel: 020 7976 6655

Russell Marsh, Head of Policy, UKBCSE
Tel: 020 7946 4290
Mob: 07941 953634
E-mail: russell.marsh@bcse.org.uk