Stage one of the Scottish Government’s Fuel Poverty Bill was completed on 20th February 2019. In our view the bill is not ambitious enough. We risk missing an important opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, create new climate jobs and strike a blow for social justice. Ending Fuel Poverty could and should be part of the Just Transition to a zero carbon economy that we need. We will publish more on this in the coming weeks – contributions are welcome.
Here are Marlyn Tweedie’s thoughts on the subject.
On Feb 15th, school children, all over Europe, came out on strike in protest at the catastrophic future they face because of climate change.
We need to make big changes re. our energy sources if we are to slow down climate change.
What if we could use sustainable energy sources to reverse climate change damage and provide cheaper fuel? Wouldn’t this be a win- win solution?
Fuel Poverty In Scotland
Over 25% of households live in fuel poverty – defined as spending 10% or more of your income on fuel bills, or, if, after paying for fuel, your income is below the poverty line.
In rural Scotland, the extent of fuel poverty is higher. A 2016 report states that in accessible rural areas, there is 35% fuel poverty and in remote areas, the figure is 45%.
Regarding extreme fuel poverty, the comparable figures are 7% for Scotland, as a region; 12% in accessible rural areas and 28% in remote areas.
Low income, high energy costs and poorly insulated homes result in this appalling situation where families, young people, elderly, disabled and many working people cannot afford adequate warmth.
A situation, which, it is estimated, contributes to 5,500 deaths a year.
What Can Be Done?
Fuel poverty would be best approached as part of a radical change in energy policy.
Scotland has an abundance of renewable energies – in the form of wave, wind and tidal energy.
The costs are cheaper. Current gas and oil costs are between 4p and 12p per kilowatt hour. Renewables are between 2p and 7p.
If, alongside a switch to renewables. A mass insulation campaign was implemented, carbon emissions could be cut by 95%.
The Campaign against Climate Change notes Three quarters of emissions from houses and flats are caused by heating air and water. To reduce this we need to insulate and draught- proof buildings and replace inefficient boilers. This can cut the amount of energy used by about 40% and delivers the double whammy of reducing energy costs and helping mitigate the scourge of fuel poverty.
It is estimated that a campaign to insulate all homes in Scotland would employ 20,000 construction workers for the next 20 years.
Further reading – the ScotE3 briefing on Fuel Poverty
Image by climatejusticecollective CC BY 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/cj_collective/6992454230
Employment, Energy and Environment 