Archived press release

Government accused of hypocrisy over green power plan to combat high fuel prices

27 May 2008

Government must urgently tackle UK's oil addiction, says Friends of the Earth

The Government was accused of hypocrisy today after a Cabinet minister called for heavy investment in renewable power and energy efficiency while existing government policies on renewable energy, fuel poverty and energy efficiency are either insufficient or are aimed at derailing progress in this area.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns, Mike Childs, said:

"John Hutton is right - we must end our addiction to oil. A huge programme of action is needed to stop energy waste and dramatically boost our use of green power.

"But Government action to date has been woeful. Ministers have rejected calls to help households and businesses generate their own renewable power, cut energy efficiency grants for the poorest households and even tried to undermine the EU renewable energy target.

"If we can become a genuine world leader in developing a low-carbon economy, the economic and employment benefits could be huge. This mustn't be just another green speech. We need less hot air and more action."

Friends of the Earth has criticised a number of Government policies on climate change, including:

• Refusing to amend the Energy Bill to require energy companies to give long-term contracts guaranteeing a premium price for renewable energy generated by households and businesses, helping them to produce their own green energy. The scheme, known as a feed-in tariff, would make renewable technologies significantly more cost effective to install. Feed-in tariffs have been especially successful in Germany, which now has 200 times more solar power and more than 10 times more wind power installed than the UK.

• Lobbying to weaken the Renewables Directive. The UK is trying to weaken proposed EU laws on sourcing 20 per cent of EU power from renewable sources by 2020, for example by proposing that other technologies be counted towards the target. The EU must stand firm and introduce a strong Renewables Directive by the end of the year.

• Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are taking the Government to court for not doing enough to meet its legal obligation to eradicate fuel poverty. The two charities are campaigning for the Government to develop a far more effective and comprehensive programme of domestic energy efficiency, to end suffering from fuel poverty and tackle climate change.

• Not including Britain's share of international aviation emissions in its Climate Change Bill.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust