Energy: £16 billion 'small price to pay' to fight climate change
8 October 2009
Energy efficiency plans welcomed by WWF Scotland
Investing £16 billion, over the next decade, in improving people’s quality of life in Scotland and reducing climate emissions will be money well spent, said WWF Scotland today (Thursday 8 October 2009). [1]
The environmental group made the claim in response to the launch today by the Scottish Government of 'A Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland' which estimated £16bn as the cost of reducing climate emissions from Scotland’s homes by 42 per cent by 2020 – as required to meet our climate targets. The money would come from a range of sources including energy companies, householders and the public purse.
WWF Scotland welcomed the priority given for energy efficiency for tackling climate change, fuel poverty and promoting a low carbon economy.
Elizabeth Leighton, Senior Policy Officer at WWF Scotland said:
“We welcome today’s consultation. Scotland’s homes account for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions therefore making them low carbon is key to Scotland achieving its 42 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Improving home energy efficiency is a win for not only for carbon savings but for lifting people out of fuel poverty and creating thousands of green jobs.
“The £16 billion price tag sounds a massive sum, but it would be spread over a decade and the cash will come from mix of sources including energy companies, householders as well as the public purse. Undertaken on a nation-wide basis we would be able to realise economies of scale and as a result the total cost could be much less. Our own research shows a significant part of the £16 billion investment would be recouped to the economy by savings in energy bills and associated economic benefits. [2]
“However, one this is clear, Government investment will need to increase. The loans scheme, while very welcome will only treat hundreds of homes, when we need to be tackling thousands.”
Notes to Editors
[1] The Scottish Government today published 'A Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland'.
In the consultation the Government estimates that a 42 per cent cut in emissions from homes by 2020 would require substantial upgrades to properties - for instance:
* 1.55 million homes would need loft insulation;
* 625,000 homes would need cavity wall insulation;
* 500,000 homes would need double glazing.
These, and other measures required, are estimated to cost 16 billion pounds - or around 7,000 pounds per home - over the period to 2020.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/10/08103328
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/07160816
[2] In 2008 WWF Scotland produced ‘Carbon Countdown for Homes’ which called for a loan scheme to help people better insulate their homes http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/carbon_homes_2_1.pdf
[3] WWF Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions - http://stopclimatechaosscotland.org
SCCS will be helping organise a Climate Change march in Glasgow on the 5th December, 2009.
