1 July 2005

“Be Bold At Home on Climate Policy” Urges UK Power Sector

Chief Executives of the nine major UK power companies have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for his international efforts on climate change to be backed up by bold actions at home (read here).

Dr John Roberts CBE, Chairman of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Chief Executive of United Utilities stated in the letter:

“As leading businesses in the UK energy sector, our focus is on practical delivery. We will be investing in excess of £10 billion in carbon abatement measures, renewable energy generation, energy efficiency and combined heat and power, in support of the Government’s goals, in the period to 2010.

We believe the Government needs to ensure that the international agenda is underpinned by ambitious but practical domestic policies, which enable our companies to take forward investment decisions with confidence.”

Specifically, the Chief Executives identified three key areas:

1. Making market mechanisms work: Initiatives such the EU Emissions Trading Scheme have great potential, but success relies on Governments sustaining a long-term, stable and clear policy framework.

2. Taking forward the energy efficiency agenda: Bold new policy approaches are needed in areas such as energy efficiency and energy services that make them more viable commercial propositions.

3. Setting the long-term framework: Investment in new generation and infrastructure can be delivered effectively and efficiently only if investors are confident that the market will not be subject to sudden policy fluctuations.

David Green, Chief Executive of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy commented:

“ Today is the first day of the UK’s Presidency of the European Union. Next week the G8 meets at Gleneagles.

Britains leading energy companies are committed to practical action to tackle climate change.
We need to ensure that as the as the Government moves through its review of the UK Climate Change Programme, the focus is on what are the next steps the Government can take to live up to the its international leadership position.

Bold and imaginative policies are needed which focus on what can be done to do to mobilise consumers, communities and business across the country to take action”

ENDS

 

For further information please contact

David Green, Chief Executive of the UKBCSE on 07802 242487; david.green@bcse.org.uk or
Justin Johnson, Head of Policy at the UKBCSE on 07890 997690; justin.johnson@bcse.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. The UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy (UKBCSE) was established in 2002 to facilitate progressive dialogue between business, NGOs and policy makers that aligns sustainability with good business practices. The Chief Executive is David Green OBE.

2. The letter was signed by the members of the Business Council:
· Dr John Roberts CBE, Chairman, UKBCSE and Chief Executive, United Utilities;
· Ian Marchant, Deputy Chairman UKBCSE and Chief Executive, Scottish and Southern Energy; with
· Charles Berry, Executive Director, Scottish Power;
· Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas;
· Andy Duff, Chief Executive, RWE npower;
· Paul Golby, Chief Executive, E.ON UK;
· Vincent de Rivaz, Chief Executive, EDF Energy; and
· Nick Winser, Chief Executive, National Grid Company.