Welsh Assembly Government works to progress....

05 June 2009, 4:49pm

Welsh Assembly Government works to progress environmental equity

The Welsh Assembly Government has an opportunity to become a global leader in energy efficiency and the fight against fuel poverty so long as it takes a bolder, more radical and innovative approach, asserts Northgate Public Services in a response published today.

Commenting on the proposals outlined in the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan consultation, Northgate welcomes the combination of the Assembly Government’s energy efficiency strategy with its target of eradicating fuel poverty by 2018.

In its response, Northgate calls for an alignment between the National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan with the Westminster Government’s schemes such as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), to allow maximum possible benefit to be obtained for the communities of Wales, and to meet the needs of the most hard pressed households.

To combat the problems of climate change and fuel poverty, Northgate make a number of suggestions to promote effective and efficient delivery including :

· a new statutory role for local authorities to promote climate change in their local areas;

· the development of green mortgages to provide extended financial support for energy efficiency measures;

· regular reporting of initiatives and promoting behavioural change on a geographical basis;

· a voluntary code of practice for private landlords.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions at Northgate Public Services, said today: “We welcome the ambitious approach outlined in the National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan consultation. It combines a strong commitment to social justice and combating fuel poverty with the need to tackle climate change and to promote environmental equity.

“The Welsh Assembly Government now has a real opportunity to take a global lead on issues of fuel poverty and energy efficiency. We believe that our recommendations would help to focus measures on those in the greatest need. Only by ensuring the effective delivery of measures can steps be taken to end fuel poverty and create a fairer society for everyone.”

www.northgate-is.com

Green IT remains a high Agenda (from The Executive Suite June/July Issue)

GeoConnexion UK