The WWF has taken the absence of the 2016 zero-carbon target for new housing from the new government’s initial programme as a sign it may be wavering on the issue.
“Despite both coalition parties having previously supported the zero carbon targets, the new coalition document contains nothing more than loose commitments to ‘improve the energy efficiency of new homes over time’,” said WWF spokesman Simon McWhirter. “With one hand the government is finally making progress on the existing housing front, but we sincerely hope they aren’t taking away this world-leading zero carbon aim with the other. “
He described the 2016 deadline as “progressive and ambitious” and said it had galvanised homebuilders to improve environmental performance.
“To lose this target now gives out a very worrying message about the government’s commitment to cutting the UK’s CO2 emissions,” he said. “To include commitments to reduce these by 30%, but to omit a key delivery mechanism for achieving this is nonsensical and we hope this is a mere slip of the pen in the flurry to craft the coalition deal.”
The WWF said industry needed certainty to continue to invest in zero carbon which “can only come about with commitment to the targets, on both homes and non-domestic buildings”. This, in turn, would help establish the UK as a “centre for progressive green construction”.
