December 2006
Chairman's Christmas Message of Hope
I was travelling in between meetings, listening to the news on the radio, hoping that some of our MPs in parliament would be taking the first steps towards reducing global warming by reducing the level of hot air which they emit; but I held little hope as it was a day where the chancellor would deliver his pre-budget report. Would he have something in his goody bag for all of us?
Rolling out his agenda for the nation before major changes in our political landscape begin to take place, I was surprised to hear what would be Britain’s greenest speech to date! The chancellor focussed on additional incentives to help UK plc to reach its target of a 60% reduction in its CO2 footprint by 2050, concentrating on transport and housing, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard.
From next year, for a limited period, homebuyers purchasing new-build homes which are "zero carbon", meaning that they meet the highest standard for energy efficiency, will not have to pay stamp duty for houses with a value of up to £500,000. In addition to this, Gordon Brown stated that, beginning in 2007, homeowners generating their own power and selling it back to the National Grid will not have to pay income tax on the money they make (but before you start rushing to ask for solar panels at Christmas, make sure you check with your local authority for planning permission to erect them). However, over the next 10 years, the government has planned to make all new build homes follow a zero carbon footprint plan, meaning that their construction and the homes themselves will be self sustaining. This is an amazing shift forwards, and together with increased funding for civic education, we will hopefully be making our world a greener, more intelligent place to live for our children.
Similarly minded was the chancellor’s continued support of the "Warm Homes", programme designed to help tackle fuel poverty. This allows pensioners and others in vulnerable groups to apply for grants between £300 and £4,000 towards insulation and central heating costs. The budget of the scheme should help insulate a further 300,000 homes, setting up a sustainable legacy of environmentally impacting improvements for future generations, as well as looking after those most vulnerable in society. These steps are now being taken with the benefit of experience from successes and failures of other schemes like the BedZed housing project in Sutton. Such knowledge helps provide not only an environmental, but also a social shift, enabling these schemes to be truly sustainable. So, I started thinking that maybe this really is the season of goodwill, when at long last the UK is taking the lead in a global environmental revolution rather than suffering from its traditional paralysis through analysis.
Mr Brown also mentioned a rise in air travel duty, with prices doubling (from £5 to £10 on short haul flights, and £20 to £40 on long haul flights), and the proceedings being earmarked for the environment and transport. In the same vein, duty on petrol increased by 1.25 pence per litre, but he stopped short of restoring the fuel duty escalator. I know that’s not exactly music to everyone’s ears, but my taste in music is quite eclectic, and I feel that the contribution to the environment will be immense.
And we can still all do our part. Here at Pro Enviro we are developing the SEE Change sustainable development project. From its headquarters in Rugby, we are in the final stages of completing our second, £5m SEE Change centre at Rodbaston College. This hub and spoke network is designed to support the regional progress towards a sustainable future through providing practical support to three diverse stakeholder groups: the business community; further and higher education institutions; and the public sector. Achieved through demonstration projects, sustainable technologies and education, as well as effective knowledge management, I am certain that this holistic approach will sow the seeds of successful and profitable sustainability for future generations. Thanks must also be extended for the help of David Kidney MP (Stafford), who has played an integral role in the process.
So I was right, the chancellor did have a present for us all. Even if by itself, it wont change the world, he gave us hope for the future; and that is perhaps the best gift at Christmas.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year,
Nersi Salehi
Chairman
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