Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Sharma and Tony Lloyd

Wednesday 20th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the potential role of energy efficiency in meeting the UK’s climate targets.

[The COP26 President (Alok Sharma)]

Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in our country, accounting for around 22% of total UK emissions. Energy efficiency measures are, indeed, a vital lever to drive down emissions, energy demand and, ultimately, bills.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alok Sharma]

The Government will, of course, respond to the report on the green homes grant, but I point out that some elements of it—the local authority delivery element and the social housing decarbonisation fund—have provided significant amounts of funding.

[Tony Lloyd]

The COP President will know that the bulk of buildings that are around today will still be around in 2030 and 2050. Most of them are grossly inadequately insulated; even new buildings are not being built to an acceptable standard. When are we going to see some action on this crucial agenda?

[Alok Sharma]

I have set out the amount of funding the Government are providing over this Parliament—£6.6 billion on energy efficiency. I very much share the view that we need to be doing even more on this, particularly as we face energy security issues and energy prices are so high; more insulation in homes will deliver lower bills for households.