Climate change top of the agenda
At a meeting with Energy Alton on 9th September, Damian Hinds MP for East Hampshire said, “Energy Alton has done an extraordinarily good job over the years in raising awareness of the importance of energy efficiency and wider environmental issues, as well as offering specific information and advice”.
The chairman of Energy Alton, John Hubbard, and members Eleanor Hill and Jenny Griffiths, raised several key issues with the MP:
- The threat of the climate crisis – the global average temperature and CO2 in the atmosphere are rising above safe levels. The group welcomed the news from Damian Hinds of significant government action included in the forthcoming Carbon Budget. The MP stressed the Government’s commitment to the implementation of the requirements of the Climate Change Act. This includes the target of 15% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.
- Energy Alton wants to see stronger targets for sustainable new buildings and financial support for retrofitting the 7 million older homes which do not meet minimum energy efficiency standards. The group thinks that local authorities such as East Hampshire DC are well placed to deliver this alongside local voluntary groups. For example, the Molson Coors site in the centre of Alton offers a unique opportunity for an exemplar civic development to include renewable energy, such as a district heating scheme, contributing to Alton’s resilience by generating more of its own energy.
- One of Energy Alton’s objectives is helping households out of fuel poverty – the group is concerned that the government is unlikely to meet its own target to improve “fuel poor” homes. Over 6% of households in East Hampshire are fuel poor, due partly to inadequate heating and leaky houses.
Energy Alton found the meeting helpful and supportive and look forward to further dialogue with Alton’s MP. The meeting took place at Alton Library, where the solar panels installed by Energy Alton in 2013 are working well. To date they have generated 28483.KWhs of carbon free electricity and saved about 52 tons of carbon.
The Climate Change Act (2008) includes the following:
- 2050 Target.The act commits the UK to reducing emissions by at least 80% in 2050 from 1990 levels. This target was based on advice from the independent report: Building a Low-carbon Economy.
- Carbon Budgets.The Act requires the Government to set legally binding ‘carbon budgets’. A carbon budget is a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the UK over a five-year period. The Committee on Climate Change provides advice on the appropriate level of each carbon budget which are designed to reflect cost effective path to achieving the long terms objectives. The first four carbon budgets have been put into legislation and run up to 2027.
- The Committee on Climate Change was set up to advise the Government on emissions targets, and report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
More details of the issues raised with Damian Hinds MP can be accessed here: dear-damian-hinds-final