Tuesday 3 January 2017

Trade union calls for transparent decarbonisation

A trade union is calling on the UK Government to be more open about the cost of going green.

The call for increased transparency comes after GMB researchers couldn't establish what the total expense of the Climate Change Act 2008 would be.

They provided an estimated cost of £123.6 billion by 2030, based on statistics from the Climate Change Committee which suggested £6.76 billion was spent on decarbonising the economy in 2015.

GMB said this figure is very likely to be exceeded as it does not take into account carbon taxes, emissions permits, renewable levies and other additional expenditure.

The firm has also suggested that paying for the measures out of general taxation is likely to be fairer than placing levies on consumer bills.

Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary for the Energy Sector, said: "Loading the costs of decarbonising the economy onto individual bill payers is highly regressive and will hit those who can least afford it the hardest - we are talking thousands of pounds extra on the bills of every house in Britain over the coming decade and a half.

"Given the eye-watering amounts of cash involved, UK energy bill payers have a right to demand complete transparency over all aspects of the decarbonising costs arising out of the 2008 Climate Change Act. It must also be established whether or not the costs represent value for money, efficacy and above all, if they are going to rack up even further, as seems likely."

BEIS has been contacted for a statement.