Today’s Queen’s Speech announced welcome legislation on energy efficiency and low carbon energy production in the form of an Energy Security and Green Economy Bill. David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK, said:
“The UK needs a revolution in the way we think about and source our energy, and we strongly support the Bill announced in today’s Queen’s Speech.”
“The proposed implementation of an emissions performance standard, provided it is set at the right level, could prevent saddling us to a new generation of polluting coal fired power plants. Furthermore, the delivery of a smart grid will be crucial for the UK’s low carbon future.”
On the Green Bank:
“The promised legislation on the Green Investment bank is urgent. At a time of public spending cuts, it is essential that we get as much private funding as possible into renewables and improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock.”
On climate change and the global deal:
“The non-legislative commitment to seek effective global collaboration to combat climate change will be vital if the Prime Minister is truly to deliver on his ambition for this to be the ‘greenest ever’ government. The UK must demonstrate leadership in Europe and globally if we are to get a binding, equitable deal and funding to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.”
On homes:
“To ensure the UK meets its climate change targets, WWF and the Great British Refurb have long been calling for the UK’s 26 million homes to be retrofitted quickly and to the highest possible standards. A government commitment to improve the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock is therefore extremely welcome.”
“At a time when the government must create jobs and grow industry, home efficiency presents a huge opportunity to kick-start growth in a low carbon economy. However, as the detail of the Bill develops, we need to see mechanisms to ensure this happens quickly, at scale and with financial incentives that will motivate the public to take part.”
For any enquiries, or further specialist comment, please contact:
Benjamin Ward
Head of Press and Media Relations
WWF-UK
+44 (0) 1483 412 378
+44 (0) 7837 134 193
bward@wwf.org.uk





