Ashden responds to news that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering weakening a host of the Government’s key climate and decarbonisation policies.
Dr Ashok Sinha, CEO at climate solutions charity Ashden, said: “If the PM wanted to do maximum harm to the UK economy, then this would be the way to do it.
“The green transition is not only necessary to prevent catastrophic environmental impacts, but it’s the only way to secure our country’s future prosperity. Putting us into the slow lane in the race to net zero will only scare off investors, damage our credibility with business and put the brakes on the climate innovation that we see growing in SMEs and communities across the country. This will only hurt jobs, livelihoods and living standards.”
In the UK, Ashden works with local authorities and the retrofit and construction sector to share knowledge and examples of how to rapidly increase green jobs and skills and share low carbon innovation.
Ashden is part of the Warm this Winter coalition of NGOs which demands that the Government provides more emergency money for people this winter, funding to help people cut their bills with better insulation, and rapidly moves the country away from expensive gas and onto cheaper, sustainable renewable energy.
Ashden’s work in the UK includes its work on sustainable towns and cities working with local authorities, retrofit agencies and others to turn climate ambition into climate action — lowering emissions while creating co-benefits including better health, new jobs, social equality, decent housing and resilient communities.
You can download a copy of Ashden Climate Solutions ‘Retrofit: solving the skills crisis’ briefing document here.
Header image: The Energiesprong approach treats the whole house in one go — electricity, heat, hot water and ventilation to deliver 90% carbon reduction now (zero carbon as the grid decarbonises). Image credit: Energiesprong.
