Energy campaigners welcome Mark Hunter MP's support for reducing carbon emissions

3.17.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Sep 2007

Mark Hunter supports measures for conserving energy to help stop climate change

A broad coalition of organisations have today welcomed local MP Mark Hunter's support in Parliament for reducing carbon emissions across all sectors. The MP for Cheadle has signed two House of Commons Early Day Motions which both aim to reduce carbon emissions.

The first Motion, "Sectoral Targets and the Climate Change Bill", calls on the Government to incorporate in its forthcoming Climate Change Bill carbon reduction targets for all sectors and technologies. These include binding targets for energy efficiency in the commercial, public and residential sectors - along with targets for renewable energy and combined heat and power. These targets are backed by all the major environmental and fuel poverty NGOs, along with the organisations representing the renewables, micro-generation, energy efficiency and CHP industries.

The second Motion, Public Sector Carbon Emissions, calls on the Government to renew their commitment to only buy, lease or procure buildings in the top quartile of energy performance. According to the latest National Audit Office report, Government departments are not on track to meet their sustainability targets - and 15 departments have increased their carbon emissions since 1999. By setting high standards of energy efficiency the Government can not only reduce its own emissions but also drive up standards in the whole commercial sector. This is very important because this sector has the fastest growing energy use of any sector apart from aviation.

Speaking on this issue Mark Hunter said: "It is vital that the UK reduce its carbon emissions by all possible means and across all sectors. It is important that the Government's own buildings are as sustainable as possible. I fully support Government renewing this commitment as it will set a good example to the private sector and reduce emissions."

"Sector-specific targets are vital to enable the Government to deliver on its overall targets for reducing carbon emissions. I fully support making these targets binding as they will give a strong boost to the Government's climate change objectives."

Andrew Warren, the Chair of the Sustainable Energy Partnership said: "Mr Hunter is to be congratulated for supporting sectoral targets and reducing carbon emissions from the public sector. Without sectoral targets, there is a very real danger that each sector will pass the responsibility for reducing emissions on to the other."

"The Government is a key player in the commercial property market and renewing their commitment will drive up energy efficiency standards in all buildings."

Notes:

Text of EDM 1914 Sectoral Targets and the Climate Change Bill: "That this House notes that the draft Climate Change Bill does not incorporate targets for the contributions that various sectors and technologies should make to the achievement of the UK's emissions reductions; believes in the effectiveness of such sectoral targets in order to prevent each sector passing the responsibility for reducing emissions on to others; therefore considers that the Climate Change Bill when introduced should require a 20 per cent. improvement in residential energy efficiency from 2010 to 2020, a 10 per cent. reduction in commercial and public service sector energy usage by 2010 and a further 10 per cent. reduction by 2020, the generation of 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and 20 per cent. by 2020, the installation of 10 gigawatts of combined heat and power capacity by 2010, all existing homes to be low carbon by the end of 2016, all new homes to be zero carbon by the end of 2016 and all dwellings occupied by vulnerable households to achieve a standard assessment procedure rating of at least 65 by 2010; further notes that these are targets to which the Government has committed itself and which the Government has stated are cost-effective and practicable; and calls for the Secretary of State to set future longer term targets in these and other sectors in order to help achieve overall carbon reduction targets.

Text of EDM 1554, Public Sector Carbon Emission: "That this House notes that the public sector is responsible for five per cent. of total UK carbon emissions and is a significant player in the commercial tenancy market; welcomes the Government's targets for carbon and energy efficiency performance on its own estate as set out in the 2004 Energy Efficiency Action Plan and restated in the 2005 Common Minimum Standards for public sector building procurement; welcomes in particular its commitment to procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance, believing that this will have a marked effect on the wider commercial property market; notes with concern that, according to a new report from the National Audit Office, most Government departments and agencies are failing to meet these targets, which will in turn render unachievable the new carbon and energy efficiency targets laid down in the March 2007 Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate; further notes with concern that 14 Government departments are less energy efficient than they were in 2000 and that sustainable public buildings can save at least £20 million per year through energy and water saving; and therefore calls for a renewed commitment by the Government that the energy standards of the buildings it purchases, leases or procures will be in the top quartile of energy performance in order to meet its energy and carbon targets and to transform the wider commercial property market.