The BBSA is one of 30 trade bodies and other organisations calling for the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, to maintain climate change targets – which include improvements in energy efficiency. The full text of the letter to Mr Clark says:
Dear Mr Clark,
We would like to warmly congratulate you on your appointment as the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and wish you well in this important new post.
We welcome the 29 June statement of Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, that the UK government would not step back from international leadership in acting on climate change. We agree that both the UK and the EU have been world leaders in addressing the enormous challenge posed by climate change. UK leadership has stemmed from the combination of EU and UK laws, regulations and policies. Together these have given businesses, investors and consumers the confidence to begin putting the UK economy and infrastructure on the path towards a low carbon future.
Following the referendum, it is now critical that Government restores this already-eroded confidence by giving an assurance that, until the terms of leaving the EU are in place, all relevant EU directives and targets are still in place and the UK Government is legally obliged to continue to meet them.
In particular, we call upon the Government to commit to hitting 2020 targets under the Renewable Energy Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive:
These targets make a key contribution towards implementing the UK’s world-leading Climate Change Act 2008 – pioneering legislation which requires ever-lower UK emissions in successive five-year carbon budgets. The policies and regulations required to meet these budgets have all been set in the context of EU law and policies on energy and climate.
Yours sincerely,
Ashden
Association for the Conservation of Energy
Bioregional
British Blind and Shutter Association
British Pump Manufacturers Association
British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturers Association
Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency
Centre for Sustainable Energy
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
E3G
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Systems Trade Association
Energy UK
Existing Homes Alliance Scotland
Friends of the Earth
Glass and Glazing Federation
Greenpeace
Insulated Render and Cladding Association
Lighting Industry Association
Mineral Wool Manufacturers Association
National Energy Foundation
National Insulation Association
Oil Firing Technical Association
Property and Energy Professionals Association
Regen SW
Renewable Energy Association
Solar Trade Association
Sustainable Energy Association
Thermal Insulation Consortium
Town & Country Planning Association
