The government has been accused of failing to match its rhetoric on tackling long-term challenges in the King’s Speech by not bringing forward measures to deal with ‘catastrophic’ energy waste from UK buildings.
UK Green Building Council head of policy and public affairs Louise Hutchins said: ‘The government claimed to set out an agenda to tackle the long-term challenges facing the UK, yet introduced no legislation or proposals to address the catastrophic levels of energy waste from homes and buildings that are fuelling the cost-of-living and climate crises.
‘Formally pulling the plug on minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes will condemn millions of people living in fuel poverty to continue enduring cold, mouldy homes.
‘As we hurtle towards climate disaster, opening up new oil and gas extraction, while failing to deal with the huge demand from gas heating in buildings will only take us further off course from the net zero future we so desperately need.’
