LEGISLATION FOCUS
UK NEEDS A PLAN TO ACHIEVE TOUGH NEW GOALS ON CARBON
The Government has issued tough new carbon emission goals but needs a proper strategy if these are to be met.
PRESSURE IS mounting on the government to come up with a water-tight strategy to meet ambitious new carbon-cutting targets, argues the construction industry.
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that the UK must cut emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels has intensified the call for a national retrofit strategy.
Federation of Master Builders chief executive Brian Berry said a national retrofit strategy was needed to give the public and contractors the confidence to invest in greener homes. “Our homes use 35 per cent of the UK’s total energy usage and emit 20 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. Net-zero will only be possible with a long-term plan to green our homes.” The Construction Leadership Council’s national retrofit strategy, NRS, published in December proposes building passports so people can see a pathway to making their homes net zero. The industry is hoping the government’s imminent heat and building strategy paper will embrace much of its NRS recommendations including lowering VAT for green improvements to five per cent.
Berry said: “It’s essential the forthcoming paper be ambitious, long-term and comprehensive in its plan to upgrade our housing stock. This will help position the UK as a global leader in tackling climate change ahead of COP26.” The NRS proposes that retrofits should be carried out alongside other improvements householders may make such as installing a new kitchen or bathroom.
The UK is the first country to enter legally binding long-term carbon budgets, first introduced as part of the 2008 Climate Change Act. Since then, five carbon budgets have been put into law putting the UK on track to meet the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, points out Jeff House, head of external affairs at Baxi Heating.
“As a company at the forefront of low-carbon research and development, we welcome the news that the Government has taken on board the bold decarbonisation recommendations made by the Climate Change Committee,” he says.
“This world-first commitment to adopt the emissions cut as advised by the CCC is a monumental pledge. To achieve a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels will rely
on a successful energy transition. To help facilitate this, we have been investing in and developing a broad range of low-carbon solutions, including hydrogen boilers, heat pumps and heat networks components.” While low-carbon technologies will help in this transition, House points out that there are still challenges. One of the biggest of these will be consumer acceptance, House believes. “Consumer engagement should start now, to help increase understanding of the need for low-carbon technology and the role it will inevitably play in meeting these goals. Change is inevitable, and we have to help people to understand that their heating systems and the way they use them will change – just as they will have to change the kind of car they drive,” he says. “Furthermore, we must prioritise the upskilling of heating engineers to enable them to install new low-carbon heating and hot water solutions.”
House adds that the
commitment demonstrated by the UK Government to be a world- leader in reducing emissions now needs to be backed up by future policy and investment. Most notably through further investment into hydrogen and other low-carbon heating technologies.
“In the lead up to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), there are several important publications expected which will further shape how the UK will set out
May 2021
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to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. This includes the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Heat and Buildings Strategy and a UK Hydrogen Strategy,” he says.”We await these details and are committed to supporting this ambitious transition and the UK’s journey to net-zero. As part of our own sustainability pledge, all products manufactured from 2025 will work with low-carbon energy sources, and by 2030, the business will be net zero across its entire UK operations.”
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at UKGBC says: “This is exactly the level of ambition the UK should be displaying if it wants to strengthen its position as a world leader on tackling climate change. “However, a major shortcoming of previous Government targets has been its inability to meet them. We’re currently on track to miss the fourth and fifth carbon budgets, meaning we urgently need the policies and practical solutions which will enable us to deliver on this commitment, not just dream about it.
“Before talking up his away game and acting like the UK is in a climate ‘super league’, the PM needs to start getting his home form in order, and ensure he’s not missing open goals.
“If we are to take this new target seriously, Government must clearly map out how it plans to tackle the carbon emissions attributable to the built environment, which account for approximately 40% of UK emissions.” BMJ
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