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A start but more ambition required in transition to 1.5°C economy
Following the positive news of £3 billion of funding for both household and public-building energy efficiency measures and heating in England, we welcome the Chancellor’s confirmation today that landlords will be able to apply for the new Green Home Grant scheme as well as owner occupiers. However, this must be the first in a series of ambitious energy efficiency commitments.
Recognising the that potential energy efficiency improvements offer is a key first step but a roadmap to future support after this scheme finishes and a framework for operation is essential, particularly around provision for private renters and the architecture of the scheme.
What is absent from the strategy today is provision for sustainable transport, particularly electric vehicle charging and active travel infrastructure. These are crucial infrastructure investments that can create jobs across the country and help to address the climate emergency
The focus of the Chancellor today on the protection and creation of jobs, is of course essential to safeguard people’s wellbeing and the economy. Having one of the Chancellors “conditions” for the new £2 billion ‘Kickstarter’ job creation scheme for under 25s be that all jobs created align with our legally-binding climate targets would have been a welcome step to a greener economy.
We hope that the upcoming National Infrastructure Strategy, Energy White Paper, and Autumn Budget will show that the Government is committed to ‘building back better’ with a green recovery agenda.
- home energy efficiency should be central to Covid-19 response package
- more on our policy work
- find out more about Energy Saving Trust