The UK Government has today issued its response to MP Chris Skidmore’s independent review of its approach to reaching its net zero targets by 2050.
Mike Thornton, chief executive at Energy Saving Trust, said:
“Today’s announcements are a step in the right direction but still fall short of a comprehensive delivery plan on what’s needed to secure a clean, green and affordable energy future.
“There are promising developments, including plans to further incentivise and accelerate the electrification of heat and the take up of heat pumps, which we look forward to seeing in detail.
“Energy bills are still a key issue. Helping to reduce energy demand by upgrading the energy efficiency of our homes is the fastest way to cut bills, reduce emissions and improve energy security now and in the long-term.
“There are still significant policy gaps in this key area. Most importantly, on long-term delivery and the funding of home insulation through a national home retrofit programme.
“In addition, the UK Government’s plans to provide better advice for households on energy efficiency are welcome but don’t go far enough to meet the scale of change that are needed.
“To empower households to take action we need a comprehensive national energy advice service for England, providing tailored support – as already exists in Scotland.
“As we’ve seen before, whilst the UK Government’s ambition is in the right place, we still want to see the detail and a roadmap to delivery.
“As the IPCC’s latest Sixth Assessment Report warned, the time for action is now if we are going to limit global temperature rises and reach net zero by 2050.”