Memorandum submitted by WWF (EEFP 18)
WWF IDEA FOR
EFRA COMMITTEE REVIEW
An important issue which WWF would like to see
investigated by the EFRA Committee is the issue of adequate and
separate funding for the eradication of fuel poverty and the reduction
in household carbon emissions.
At the moment the two goals are combined under
one policy mechanism—the CERT—and this is not entirely
appropriate. In addition, insufficient funds are dedicated to
either goal. CERT is a carbon driven mechanism and does not directly
address total energy demand. Therefore, it will not necessarily
improve energy efficiency enough to meet the Government's energy
efficiency targets. According to the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group
(FPAG) the Government, not just companies, needs to provide millions
more directly to eradicating fuel poverty. This figure would have
to increase with rising energy bills which would otherwise result
in more people being classed as fuel poor.
April 2008
Addendum
I just had it pointed out to me by a colleague
that WWF's submission might imply that CERT was the only government
policy in town on household energy efficiency—which would
be incorrect as there is Warm Front as well.
So I wondered if I could add that while there
is Warm Front it is (a) not enough in terms of finance, and (b)
does not necessarily target those who are suffering from fuel
poverty.
Indeed there is an interesting interaction between
CERT and the Warm Front, even tension, and fuel poverty doesn't
always come out best as opposed to efforts on energy efficiency
and carbon reduction.
Russell Cooper
April 2008
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