Stunell steps up fight against climate change

2.39.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Aug 2005

Local MP, Andrew Stunell is sponsoring two Bills in Parliament aiming to promote energy efficiency in buildings, microgeneration and renewable energy solutions to step up the fight against climate change.

Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell said:

"Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet today and we need to act now. CO2 levels are increasing, and the government continually pays lip-service to climate change, yet fails to come through with real action.

"It is encouraging how many local constituents have written to me concerned about the failure of the government to take climate change seriously.

"These Bills will help enable people and communities to generate energy themselves - good news for fuel bills and for the fight against climate change."

Mr Stunell added:

"I am delighted to sponsor the Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Bill, and the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill, and I will fight to make these become law over the coming Parliament.

"The next round of what is likely to be a long battle will be votes on November 11th."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. In brief, the Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Bill, and the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill together will:

• Require the Prime Minister to report annually to parliament on greenhouse gas emissions

• Require the Chancellor of the Exchequer to draw up a fiscal strategy to promote micro-energy generation and energy efficiency

• Require targets to be set for microgeneration;

• Introduce polices to help achieve those targets e.g. permitted development status for small scale generation to make it easier and cheaper to install; require new buildings to have an 'energy generation' rating

• Establish a renewable heat obligation requiring utility companies to supply heat from renewable sources

• Establish a Community Cooperative Energy Unit to assist with the development of small community energy co-operatives.

2. The progress of the Bills can be monitored on the House of Commons website:

http://10.160.3.10:82/ReportServer?/Bill_Index&rs:Command=Render&rs:format=HTML4.0

3. Microgeneration is the generation of energy by individual householders or small community groups of householders.

4. For NGO comment from the Sustainable Energy Partnership, please contact Jane Vaus:

0207 9240795

jane.vaus@btinternet.com

Members of the Sustainable Energy Partnership are: the All Party Group for Intelligent Energy, Association for the Conservation of Energy, Association for Environment Conscious Building, Association of Coal Mine Methane Operators, British Biogen, British Hydro, British Energy Efficiency Federation, Combined Heat and Power Association, Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership, Energy Conservation and Solar Centre, Energy Watch, Friends of the Earth, GLOBE UK All-Party Parliamentary Group, Good Energy, Green Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Greenpeace, Help the Aged, London Energy Managers Group, Micropower Council, National Energy Action, National Federation of Women's Institutes, National Home Improvement Council, National Housing Federation, National Right to Fuel Campaign, PV-UK, PRASEG All-Party Parliamentary Group, RSPB, Renewable Power Association, SERA, SHELTER, Solar Century, Tenants & Residents Organisations of England (TAROE), Tory Green Initiative, TRANSCO, UK HECA Forum, UNISON, WWF-UK