MPs criticise Government green failures as ‘empty rhetoric’
August 1st 2008 The first report into the environmental impact of offices, shops and factories has criticised the government’s green policy for ignoring the real issues in favour of easy headlines.
The All Party Urban Development Group says that instead of focussing on making new buildings carbon neutral, the government’s focus must shift to existing buildings, which make up 99% of the current problem.
It will heap further embarrassment on the government after the Commons Environmental Audit Committee found there had been ‘very poor progress towards cutting emissions from Whitehall departments’.
Around half of all Britain’s carbon emissions are associated with buildings, yet the government’s focus has deliberately been on new properties, despite just 1% of buildings being replaced each year.
Clive Betts MP, chairman of the All Party Urban Development Group, said:“Property is the natural focus for everyone as far as climate change is concerned. Buildings are where the biggest carbon savings can be made and we have been failing in this area.We need systemic and scale solutions.The empty rhetoric must end so that ministers and business leaders can both take real action.”
The group’s inquiry, led by a cross party group of MPs and peers, found that a major policy shift was needed to deal with the issue of existing buildings.Up to 70% of all non-domestic properties will still be with us in 20502, which means that existing buildings are one of the areas where the biggest carbon savings can be made.
The report also says that the government must lead by example.Many government buildings are among the worst performers when it comes to energy efficiency.
According to the report, local communities and small businesses will be hardest hit by a failure to improve energy efficiency.
It is believed that around a third of energy savings can be made with little or no cost to anyone. In the UK,we also waste as much heat as we use.The group’s report found that an overly bureaucratic approach to policy by the government was hindering progress.There are currently over 160 government departments and bodies involved in setting and delivering the green agenda. Mr Betts added: “Much of the climate change discussion has been about risk, threat, and fear.
The tendency has very much towards using punishment or guilt to encourage a change in behaviour. But in society this doesn’t work in practice.We need to ensure people truly aspire to improve their green credentials and only then will we see a real step-change in behaviour.” More articles from WEE News Desk: | 
