07 February 2023
Professor Chris Hilson, Director of the Reading Centre for Climate and Justice, University of Reading, comments on the formation of the new government department for Energy, Security and Net Zero.
He says: "It’s welcome news that the Government is recognising that the energy and net zero agenda merits its own dedicated department. It was always a mistake for this to have been lost in the BEIS behemoth. However, the name of the new Department – with energy security at the start and net zero as an afterthought – clearly hints at the Prime Minister’s perceived need to keep the more climate sceptic wing of the party on board.
"Like the setting of targets for net zero, creating new Departments is, nevertheless, the easy part. The devil is in the implementation detail. Government announcements so far suggest that the focus will be on securing energy supply and reducing inflation via a reduction in energy prices. Its mention of nuclear and renewables will be welcomed by many, although cheap, small, modular nuclear power never seems to progress from being just around the corner. Existing large-scale nuclear plants under construction will certainly not bring power prices down. That needs to change, as does the Government’s antipathy to onshore wind.
"But as important as supply is reducing energy demand. Home insulation and energy efficiency may not offer as many high-viz jacket photo opportunities for ministers, but it is crucial to bringing down prices for struggling households. It is also the area where so far, the Government has largely been missing in action."
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