FAQs - Energy efficiency and legislation
Q. How can the lay person determine the urgency of climate change when government imposes stealth taxes based on green issues? i.e. airport departure tax and gas guzzler car taxes.
If these changes were as important as we are lead to believe surely government would legislate - make manufacturers only produce cars with low emissions and only allow aircraft to fly fully or nearly fully loaded. Electronic goods could be made to be on or off as they used to be.
Much could also be done to make buildings more energy efficient by the use of building regulations and to help householders with grants etc to improve energy efficiency.
A. The Government recognises the need to legislate. That’s why we’re introducing the Climate Change Bill into Parliament to make the UK the first country to introduce a strong legal framework for tackling climate change. The Bill will put into statute the UK's targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and introduces five-year carbon budgets, which will set binding limits on carbon dioxide emissions. For further information on the Bill see:
The Energy White Paper, published in May 2007, sets out the Government’s international and domestic climate change and energy strategy to address the kind of challenges that you refer to. It emphasises the importance of using the right policy instruments to tackle climate change. Find out more about the Energy White Paper
There is no single policy that can improve energy efficiency across all sectors, therefore the Government has a range of energy efficiency policies.
- in the household sector - we are improving the efficiency of buildings themselves as well as the products and services within them, and providing people with information and advice on how to improve their energy efficiency;
- in the business and public sectors - we are providing financial incentives and setting targets for organisations, as well as providing information and advice;
- in the transport sector, we are working with industry and other governments to improve the efficiency of vehicles, and promoting innovation and design.
The Government believes that environmental taxes can support the policy framework for an efficient and cost-effective response to climate change, but should only be used where they are the most effective way to take action.
Page last modified:
22 February 2008
Page published: 22 February 2008