§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations in relation to greenhouse gas emissions from domestic dwellings. [120715]
§ Mr. MorleyI have been asked to reply.
Domestic buildings accounted for approximately 28 per cent. of total UK CO2 emissions in 2000. The Government therefore view the household sector as a key area for achieving emissions reductions.
In the Energy White Paper "Our Energy Future— Creating a Low-Carbon Economy" published in February this year, the Government accepted the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's recommendation that the UK should put itself on the path to cut CO2 emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050. In the White Paper the Government said that they expected energy efficiency to deliver around half of the total carbon savings needed by 2010. The household sector was identified as having the potential to deliver 3.5 million tones of carbon (MtC) beyond the measures already identified in the UK Climate Change Programme. Looking beyond the first Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period, the Government believe that energy efficiency can deliver a similar proportion of the emission reductions needed during the following decade. Around half of these energy efficiency savings could be made in the household sector.
The White Paper has identified a number of key measures through which carbon emission reductions might be achieved in the household sector by 2010:
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Carbon emission reductions Measure MtC Raising boiler standards 0.6 Insulating cavity walls 1.2 Low energy light bulbs 0.5 Improved efficiency of household appliances 0.4 Insulation measures and community CHP 1 Note:
The figures given for each measure are indicative rather than targets.
The key policies to deliver these are set out in the Energy White Paper and include:
- The Energy Efficiency Commitment;
- Building Regulations and the implementation of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive;
- Improved energy performance standards for household appliances and other products;
- The Community Energy Programme;
- Programmes targeted on the fuel poor and social housing;
- Tax measures; and
- Advice and information, in particular through the work of the Energy Saving Trust.
The Government have committed to publish within a year an implementation plan that sets out in further detail how it will deliver the energy efficiency strategy set out in the White Paper.