PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CLIMATE CHANGE (COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC SERVICES SECTOR) (1 February 2007)

That this House notes that the commercial and public services sector has the fastest growing energy use apart from aviation, and that its use of electricity, which has a particularly high carbon footprint, is projected to increase by nearly 45 per cent. from 1990 to 2020; notes with concern that, according to the Department for Trade and Industry's updated projections, the UK will undershoot by 9.4 per cent. its domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010; further notes that the new policy measures announced in the revised Climate Change Programme are projected to deliver emissions reduction of only 15 to 18 per cent., leaving the UK still two to five per cent. adrift of its target; is concerned that, according to the Government's Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan, action to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector is not achieving its full potential, and therefore agrees that it is both cost-effective and practicable to reduce energy usage in this sector by 10 per cent. below 2005 levels by 2010 and by a further 10 per cent. below 2010 levels by 2020 as confirmed in Written Answers by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; welcomes the Climate Change (Commercial and Public Services Sector) Bill introduced in the last parliamentary session; and joins the 315 hon. Members who signed Early Day Motion No. 2378 in the 2005-06 parliamentary session in supporting that Bill.

Sponsored by:
Dr Alan Whitehead (Labour)