MPs criticise Government green failures as ‘empty rhetoric’
July 16th 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 a day after the Commons Environmental Audit Committee found there had been "very poor progress towards cutting emissions from Whitehall departments”.1
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 one per cent 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. With oil having doubled in price and energy costs set to continue rising, ignoring the inefficiencies of buildings is not an option.
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.3
The report’s main recommendations are:
• One single measurement tool so businesses can compare one building with another and determine how green it is
• Better co-ordination of different government agencies working on environmental policy
• Clear advice and information for tenants and landlords on how to reduce energy use and make easy savings.
• Tighter building regulations that demand greater improvements from developers
• In-depth research on what fiscal and other incentives would make businesses change their behaviour
Mr Betts added:
“People understand how property works as an investment for institutions or pension holders, but not the green issues that surround buildings. We need clear evidence on what will actually help and a strategy led by one voice within government. There is too much confusion across departments and many do not know where to turn.
“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.”
Commercial property is responsible for 17% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of 250,000 long-haul flights between London and New York each year, or the averagely yearly car use of 90 million people.
1 Environmental Audit Commission report ‘Making Government operations more sustainable’ can be downloaded here.
2 UK Green Building Council (2007) Report on carbon reductions in new non-domestic buildings.
3 HM Treasury (2006) Report of the Task Group on business energy efficiency and advice, London: HMT. | 
