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Coalition deal wavers on zero-carbon targets
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Targets for ensuring all new homes are zero-carbon by 2016 have not been included in the new Government Coalition deal, raising concerns that the government is rowing back on previously-supported commitments that will help deliver deep and immediate emissions cuts, boost the market for green technologies and establish the UK as a centre for progressive green construction.
Despite both Coalition parties having previously publicly supported the zero carbon targets, the new coalition document contains nothing more than loose commitments to “improve the energy efficiency of new homes over time.”
WWF-UK were one of the original architects of this talismanic piece of environmental legislation, and consider it key to the UK attaining its climate change targets. The conservation organisation is concerned that the omission of this target will discourage industry from seeking the highest levels of sustainability with new build.
Simon McWhirter, Senior Public Affairs Officer at WWF-UK, and a member of the government’s 2016 Zero Carbon Task Force on this issue, says:
“With one hand the Government is finally making progress on the existing housing front but we sincerely hope they aren’t taking away this world-leading zero carbon target with the other. The 2016 zero carbon deadline for new homes is a progressive and ambitious target and against all the odds it has been hugely catalytic in galvanising homebuilders towards reducing the emissions from new build. To lose this target now, gives out a very worrying message about the new Government’s commitment to cutting the UK’s CO2 emissions.”
“The new Government will be held to account for its delivery on the key aspects of this Coalition Deal. To include commitments to reduce the UK’s emissions by 30%, but to omit a key delivery mechanism for achieving this is nonsensical, and we hope this is a mere slip of the pen in the flurry to craft this agreement. Industry need certainty and the confidence to continue to invest in and innovate on zero carbon. That can only come about with a renewed commitment to the zero carbon targets, on both homes and non-domestic buildings.”
