AN ENVIRONMENTAL group is urging Reading’s candidates standing in the general election to take action on fuel poverty and climate change.
Members of Reading Friends of the Earth say they want urgent action to help people struggling with high energy bills, including targeted support, price guarantees and fairer pricing.
The group says fuel poverty affects many people in Reading, and has identified six ‘neighbourhoods’ within Reading Borough as ‘fuel poverty hotspots’.
The next nearest hotspots are in Oxford and London.
The next government, it adds, should launch an emergency programme to insulate homes, saying it is the cheapest and easiest way to reduce bills and carbon emissions.
And it also wants to see more green energy created.
To bolster its campaign, they have launched a petition, which currently has just under 200 signatures – they intend to present it to the MPs this autumn. It was originally planned to coincide with the then-predicted poll, but this is now taking place on Thursday, July 4.
Reading Friends of the Earth say research published by Sir Michael Marmot’s UCL Institute of Health Equity on behalf of Friends of the Earth found that 9.6 million UK households are living in heat-leaking, badly insulated homes and have incomes below the minimum required for an acceptable standard of living.
This adds that cold homes double the risk of adults developing new mental health conditions and put one in four children at risk of multiple mental health symptoms.
John Booth, a campaigner with Reading Friends of the Earth, said: “The failure to upgrade the UK’s energy inefficient housing stock, alongside years of wage stagnation, soaring energy prices, exorbitant living costs and unaffordable housing, has left the hope of a warm and healthy home out of reach for many.”
“Going beyond the short-term and rolling out the measures that will help to lower bills for good must also be at the top of the government’s agenda.
“By committing to a nationwide insulation programme and a plan to rapidly ramp up the production of cheap, clean and popular renewable energy, the government can slash energy bills, cut carbon emissions and keep each and every one of us warm.”
In its manifesto, the Conservatives have set some net zero goals, such as a ban on new petrol cars, to 2035, and are committed to a 2050 target. It wants to see offshore wind capacity trebled, and an increase in nuclear power.
Labour wants to decarbonise the industry by 2030, and launch Great British Energy, while boosting onshore wind and solar power plants. A national wealth fund would invest in green technology.
The Liberal Democrats want to reach full net zero by 2045, rather than 2050, and would offer low income households free insulation and heat pumps, and offer help for solar panels on homes.
The Green Party would scale up wind and solar power, while meeting net zero emissions by 2040.
Reform UK would scrap net zero targets within its first 100 days, and it would also encourage drilling for North Sea oil and gas, increasing nuclear power, and support mining for lithium and electric batteries.
For more details on the petition, log on to: www.readingfoe.co.uk
