Government Must lead on Climate Change - Stunell

5.08.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Feb 2008

Plans to force the Government to tackle climate change caused by its own buildings have been backed by local MP Andrew Stunell. The Hazel Grove MP is supporting a new back-bench Bill that would force the Government to only buy or rent buildings that are highly energy efficient. If passed the Bill is expected to have a knock on effect in the private sector too, increasing its impact.

Commenting on the Bill, Mr Stunell said:

"The public sector produces 5% of the UK's carbon emissions. Making radical changes to the environmental standards expected of Government departments and agencies will make a huge difference, and will help to set a standard for the private sector and ordinary people to follow".

"What many do not realise is that the public sector has a big influence on the private property market, occupying 10% of UK offices. By making these changes we can have a huge positive effect on the environment".

"Recent proposals to make the procurement of environmentally friendly public sector buildings compulsory are most welcome. The public sector must lead the way in the fight against climate change".

END

Notes to editors:

1. Andrew Stunell MP has signed the following Early Day Motion (No. 673):

That this House notes that the public sector is responsible for five per cent. of total UK carbon emissions and is a significant player in the commercial property market; further notes that the Central Government Estate alone occupies some 10 per cent. of UK offices; therefore welcomes the Government's targets for carbon and energy efficiency performance on the estate as set out in the 2004 Energy Efficiency Action Plan and restated in the 2007 Energy White Paper; further welcomes in particular the and the recognition in the Action Plan that `Strong Government leadership on the energy standards of the buildings it procures... can start to transform the wider commercial property market'; further welcomes the bringing forward of the Public Sector Buildings (Energy Performance) Bill, via the Private Members' Ballot by the hon. Member for Swindon South with cross-party support, which would give legal force to the Government's commitment to procure only buildings in the top quartile of energy performance and thereby help drive down energy use and carbon emissions across the whole of the UK office market; and hopes that the Bill will become law during the 2007-08 Session.