Green Deal and ECO not enough to keep building emissions reductions on track according to the Committee on Climate Change

The government needs to implement a “step change” in the pace of reduction of emissions from buildings if it is to meet its long term carbon reduction targets, the Committee on Climate Change has concluded.

Although it found building emissions reduced by 12% last year, ahead of what was needed, it attributed much of this to much milder weather.

It said that the current policy framework including the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Carbon Reduction Commitment and Renewable Heat Incentive would not be enough to continue the sharp decline beyond 2020.

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “This message could not be better timed, coming as it does with the Green Deal at a crucial juncture – it’s yet another wake-up call that this flagship government policy will only succeed if there are sufficient long-term incentives for householders to take it up and to give the industry the confidence it needs to invest and gear up for delivery.”

The committee suggested that under-performance against the current Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) should be carried over into the ECO to maintain market stimulus.

Plus, it said government should introduce building regulations and tax incentives to stimulate the Green Deal.

Energy secretary Ed Davey said: “The report confirms that we have very big challenges to face up to and highlights key areas where we need to raise our game to ensure that we meet our ambitious energy and climate change goals.”

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