Wales must lead way on energy efficiency

Recent severe weather and flooding across Wales should concentrate politicians' minds on combating climate change, say campaigners. The Sustainable Energy Partnership [1] is urging all Assembly Members to back a firm target for energy efficiency in Welsh homes which will support national targets for reducing dangerous carbon dioxide emissions and help prevent cold related deaths in the winter.

The Sustainable Energy Act 2003, supported by MPs of all parties in Wales, requires the Assembly to designate an 'energy efficiency aim' for Welsh homes.

Last year, the Assembly's Economic Development Committee recommended that "the Welsh Assembly Government should support the UK Government's targets for energy efficiency" and that it "should report on performance towards achieving energy efficiency targets".

Recently, the UK Government's energy efficiency minister, Lord Whitty, has confirmed to Parliament the UK 'commitment' to save 5 megatonnes of carbon per annum from household energy efficiency by 2010 [2]. Campaigners and many Assembly Members are now calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to support this UK target and designate an appropriate proportion for Wales [3].

Richard Thomas of the Association for the Conservation of Energy said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government should set an example by declaring a worthwhile energy efficiency aim as soon as possible. Like the Assembly's Economic Development Committee we hope that the Welsh Energy Efficiency Aim will both support the UK commitment and designate an appropriate proportion to be achieved in Wales."

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru added:

"The recent weird weather and floods across Wales could be making our AMs think about how we can all combat dangerous climate change. Saving energy is the best way of cutting fuel bills, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and preventing cold related deaths. Already 25 Assembly Members of all parties have signed a Statement of Opinion backing this campaign. I have today written to other Assembly Members asking them to sign up to making sure the Wales leads the way on energy efficiency."

Notes

[1] The Sustainable Energy Partnership is supported by: Association for the Conservation of Energy, Association for Environment Conscious Building, Association of Coal Mine Methane Operators, British Biogen, British Hydro, British Energy Efficiency Federation, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Combined Heat and Power Association, Cornwall Sustainable Energy partnership, Energy Conservation and Solar Centre, Friends of the Earth, GLOBE UK All-Party Parliamentary Group, Green Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Help the Aged, London Energy Managers Group, National Energy Action, National Federation of Women's Institutes, National Home Improvement Council, National Housing Federation, National Right to Fuel Campaign, PV-UK, PRASEG, RSPB, Renewable Power Association, SERA, SHELTER, Solar Century, Tenants & Residents Organisations of England (TAROE), Tory Green Initiative, TRANSCO, UK HECA Forum, UNISON, Unit-[E], WWF-UK

[2] In February 2003, the Department for Trade and Industry published the Energy White Paper, and in Chapter 3 on Energy Efficiency, stated that measures had been put into place to achieve 1.5MtC, and also outlined potential measures to achieve a further 3.5MtC (million tonnes of carbon) savings, to deliver the expected 5MtC by 2010. The Paper also claims that "by 2020 a further 4-6MtC of annual savings can come from households" (p33).

Lord Whitty, the energy efficiency minister has since given the following commitment to Parliament regarding the Government's Energy Efficiency plans:

House of Lords Hansard 27 Oct 2003 : Column WA19
Household Energy Efficiency
Baroness Maddock asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the statement on their sustainable energy policy network website that lists as "Commitment EE6" "improvements in household energy efficiency of 5 megatonnes of carbon by 2010 and a further 4-6 megatonnes of carbon by 2020" is accurate.[HL4987]
Lord Whitty: Yes.
In April 2003 the Welsh Assembly's Economic Development Committee produced its "Energy Efficiency - Final Report
This included the following two recommendations:

1. The Welsh Assembly Government should support the UK Government's targets for energy efficiency by promoting energy efficiency in all areas and at all levels.
5. The Welsh Assembly Government should ......establish a mechanism to monitor and report on performance towards achieving energy efficiency targets

[3] Statement of Opinion No 36, tabled by Christine Gwyther AM, Chair of the influential Economic Development Committee and backed by AMs of all parties reads as follows:

Amcan Arbed Ynni ar gyfer Cymru / An Energy Efficiency Aim for Wales
Raised by: Christine Gwyther, Mark Isherwood, Jenny Randerson & Janet Davies

An Energy Efficiency Aim for Wales

We note:

The Sustainable Energy Act 2003 requires the Assembly to designate an 'energy efficiency aim' for residential accommodation.

The Economic Development Committee recommended that the Welsh Assembly Government should support the UK Government's targets for energy efficiency."

UK Government energy efficiency minister Lord Whitty has confirmed to Parliament their commitment to save 5 megatonnes of carbon per annum from household energy efficiency by 2010 (confirmed by them as equivalent to a twenty per cent improvement).

We believe the Welsh Assembly Government should as its energy efficiency aim both support this UK target and designate an appropriate proportion for Wales.