Energy Campaigners welcome John Leech MP's support for reducing carbon emissions

12.38.21pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Sep 2007

A broad coalition of organisations have today welcomed local MP John Leech's support in Parliament for reducing carbon emissions across all sectors.

The MP for Manchester Withington has signed two House of Commons Early Day Motions which both aim to reduce carbon emissions.

The first Motion, Sectoral Targets and the Climate Change Bill, calls on the Government to incorporate in its forthcoming Climate Change Bill carbon reduction targets for all sectors and technologies. These include binding targets for energy efficiency in the commercial, public and residential sectors - along with targets for renewable energy and combined heat and power.

These targets are backed by all the major environmental and fuel poverty NGOs, along with the organisations representing the renewables, microgeneration, energy efficiency and CHP industries.

The second Motion, Public Sector Carbon Emissions, calls on the Government to renew their commitment to only buy, lease or procure buildings in the top quartile of energy performance.

According to the latest National Audit Office report, Government departments are not on track to meet their sustainability targets - and 15 departments have increased their carbon emissions since 1999.

By setting high standards of energy efficiency the Government can not only reduce its own emissions but also drive up standards in the whole commercial sector. This is very important because this sector has the fastest growing energy use of any sector apart from aviation.

John Leech MP said:

"It is vital that the UK reduce its carbon emissions by all possible means and across all sectors."

"It is important that the Government's own buildings are as sustainable as possible. I fully support Government renewing this commitment as it will set a good example to the private sector and reduce emissions."

"Sector-specific targets are vital to enable the Government to deliver on its overall targets for reducing carbon emissions. I fully support making these targets binding as they will give a strong boost to the Government's climate change objectives."

Andrew Warren, the Chair of the Sustainable Energy Partnership said:

"John Leech is to be congratulated for supporting sectoral targets and reducing carbon emissions from the public sector. Without sectoral targets, there is a very real danger that each sector will pass the responsibility for reducing emissions on to the other."

"The Government is a key player in the commercial property market and renewing their commitment will drive up energy efficiency standards in all buildings."

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