Archived press release

Northern Ireland MPs support new Bill to tackle climate change

4 February 2005

MPs from across Northern Ireland are supporting proposed new legislation which would boost renewable energy use and help in the fight against climate change [1]. On 4 February 2005 the ‘Renewable Heat Obligation Bill’, backed by a coalition including Friends of the Earth, is due to be debated in the House of Commons.

Three MPs from Northern Ireland [2] have pledged their support for the Bill, which would require energy suppliers to source of a percentage of heating fuel from renewables such as willow, straw, solar power and ground heat. Around a third of the UK’s demand for energy is for heat.

The legislation would bring new sources of revenue and employment to rural areas, by creating a market for biomass crops and providing an outlet for off-cuts from the forestry industry. It would help in the fight against climate change by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Friends of the Earth Climate Campaigner Katie Elliott, said:

‘We are delighted that MPs in Northern Ireland are calling for action to tackle climate change. A third of the UK’s energy is used for heat, but so far the Government’s energy policy has overlooked the potential savings in carbon dioxide emissions from the heat sector. This Bill would help to boost the renewable heat market and this would reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.’

Currently little renewable heat energy is generated in the UK. Farmers have been reluctant to grow crops such as straw and willow for fuel, as markets have been so uncertain. The Renewable Heat Obligation Bill would provide an incentive for schools, hospitals, hotels, farmers or timber yards install their own small scale units such as wood burners, ground heat pumps or straw fired heating.

The Bill would allow energy suppliers to either invest in their own supplies of renewable heat energy or buy in ‘credits’ from companies which specialise in the technology.

Notes

[1] (back) This Renewable Heat Obligation Bill is a Private Members Bill proposed by Mike Weir MP for Angus and is supported by Friends of the Earth, the National Farmers Union, the Woodland Trust and others.
Friends of the Earth also endorses other environmentally friendly methods of dealing with waste wood and straw eg composting and recycling
[2] (back) Gregory Campbell MP Londonderry East, Nigel Dodds MP Belfast North and Martin Smyth MP Belfast South.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust