Greenpeace and the political action group ACT today accused Tony Blair and 123 Labour MPs of 'dangerously muddled and hypocritical thinking' following their rejection in Parliament of measures to improve energy efficiency in Britain which they had previously supported (1).
Greenpeace and ACT have published an advertisement in the national press highlighting the gulf between Mr Blair's rhetoric on global warming and his record of inaction. The advert states: 'No wonder people don't trust politicians!' before listing the MPs who obeyed the Prime Minister's instruction to oppose the measures.
Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen Tindale said: "Tony Blair's fine words almost convinced us that he was serious about tackling climate change. Unfortunately his actions show that he is, as his friend George Bush might say, all hat and no cattle. If the PM can't even deliver a serious drive on energy efficiency, he can kiss goodbye to his aspiration to lead the fight against global warming."
Earlier this year Blair warned that the threat from climate change was 'probably the single most important issue that we face.' In addition, his government claims to be concerned about fuel poverty. The energy efficiency measures he now opposes would have reduced greenhouse gases emitted from British homes while helping some 30,000 British people who die needlessly every winter because they can't afford to heat their poorly-insulated houses. This figure will almost certainly increase as domestic energy prices rise."
The failure on domestic energy efficiency comes less than a fortnight after the government capitulated to CBI lobbying on the European emissions trading scheme. Industry will now be allowed to emit as much in future years as it has in the past, meaning that the much vaunted trading scheme will deliver no real benefit to the climate.
Stephen Tindale added: "You have to wonder how Tony Blair is going to put climate change at the centre of his G8 and EU presidencies, as he says he will, when he can't even get serious here at home."
For more information contact Greenpeace on 07801 212967
Notes on the amendments
1. Two amendments to the housing bill proposed by the house of lords:
Ammendment 190 - "Decent homes standard for social housing
(1) The Secretary of State shall ensure that by 2016 all social housing shall as far as is reasonably practicable achieve a SAP rating of no lower than 65.
(2) In this section "social housing" means housing let by a registered social landlord or a local housing authority."
Ammendment 191 - "Improvements in energy efficiency
(1) For the purposes of-
(a) improving the energy efficiency of residential accommodation;
(b) increasing the comfort level of occupants of residential accommodation; and
(c) alleviating fuel poverty,
the Secretary of State shall take reasonable steps to ensure an increase in residential energy efficiency of at least 20% by 2010 based upon 2000 levels.
2. In this section-
"fuel poverty" has the same meaning as in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 (c. 31); and
"residential energy
(1) the setting of an energy efficiency target for residential homes. The target is an 'increase in residential energy efficiency of at least 20% by 2010 based upon 2000 levels.' (Amendment 191)
(2) commits the government to ensure that by 2016 all social housing have insulation, heating and ventilation standards that are at least equivalent to those required in newly built homes by the present day Building Regulations. (Amendment 190)
Download the Greenpeace briefing: Housing Bill Amendments (pdf)
Download the Greenpeace and ACT advertisement (pdf) that ran in the Guardian.
