This sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation. With the proliferation of computers and other electronics, its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45% from 1990 to 2020.
The Bill will set legally binding targets for reducing energy usage in the commercial sector and further targets for energy production from renewable sources, Combined Heat and Power and microgeneration.
Stephen Williams said "The need for urgent action to cut our carbon emissions is greater than ever. The Government has rightly acknowledged that we need to do a lot more if we are to meet our climate change targets of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2010. I fully support this Bill which will ensure the Government makes our offices more environmentally friendly. The sooner it becomes law, the better."
Andrew Warren, the Chair of the Sustainable Energy Partnership said "Stephen Williams is to be congratulated for supporting this important Bill in Parliament. It will be good for industry and good for the environment."
That this House notes with concern that, according to the Department for Trade and Industry's updated projections, the UK will undershoot by 9.4 per cent. its domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010; further notes that the new policy measures announced in the revised Climate Change Programme are projected to deliver emissions reductions of only 15 to 18 per cent., leaving the UK still 2 to 5 per cent. adrift of its target; further notes that the commercial and public services sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation, and that its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45 per cent. from 1990 to 2020; is concerned that, according to the Government's Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan, action to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector `is not achieving its full potential'; further notes that in recent Written Answers from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that it is both cost-effective and practicable to reduce energy usage in this sector by 10 per cent. below 2005 levels by 2010 and by a further 10 per cent. below 2010 levels by 2020; and therefore welcomes the introduction with cross-party support by the hon. Member for Southampton, Test of the Climate Change (Commerical and Public Services Sector) Bill, which sets targets to reduce energy usage by these amounts, and requires the Government to lay before Parliament a report specifying targets for energy production in the commercial sector from renewable sources, combined heat and power and microgeneration.
