The ADE in the News 14/08/2023

This week, the ADE wrote to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on behalf of our members and the decentralised energy sector to express growing concerns surrounding the government's approach to the UK's transition to net zero. 

In a bid to represent the sector's best interests, the letter points to the benefits consumers and the wider economy experience from decarbonisation; through energy efficiency, flexibility, heat networks and industrial decarbonisation. 

The letter resulted in media coverage across the board: 

• Sky News - Rowing back on climate pledges 'could burden households with higher bills', PM warned

• The Independent - Halting progress on net zero could burden consumers with extra costs, PM warned

• Evening Standard - Halting progress on net zero could burden consumers with extra costs, PM warned

• The Mirror - Fury as right-wing Tories call for vote on ripping up green pledges

• Energy Live News - ‘UK’s climate pledge rollback could lead to higher household energy bills’

• The Energyst - “Hold to Net Zero, to preserve UK’s £1 trillion opportunity”;  ADE to Sunak

• Carbon Brief - UK: We’ll lose seats if Rishi Sunak dilutes net-zero, warn blue wall Tories

• Energy Voice - Halting progress on net zero could burden consumers with extra costs, PM warned

• Current News - ADE: ‘Government moves risk undermining positive climate action’

• Business Green - Government hands out £20m to energy saving advice schemes across England

• Innovation News Network - Climate change experts criticise government’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan

• My London - Cost of living could go up if government rolls back net zero warn experts

Caroline Bragg, the ADE's Interim CEO, warned the Prime Minister how the UK could fall behind should decisive action not take place: 

"The Conservative Party has a long and prestigious tradition in acting decisively against climate change. Recent statements by your office however risk undermining that tradition and business confidence to invest in UK Plc, and at a time when other countries are doing so much to attract investment."

Other news

Also in the news this week was a mention of ADE's flexibility work in an Edie article, which quoted Sarah Honan, the ADE's Flexibility Policy Manager: 

“An exponential increase in low carbon flexibility is the only path for reaching net-zero in a cost-effective way. Certainty of direction, consistency of delivery, and when the time comes, clarity of design will provide industry and other stakeholders with the confidence needed to invest in flexibility.”