The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has published a letter sent by its Deputy Chief Executive, Simon McWhirter, to the Prime Minister in response to the government's rollback of green policies in late September 20231. The letter sets out the council's view that the change of approach will be damaging for the climate and for UK industries that have been preparing to deliver net zero1.
The letter states that the UK will not meet its climate targets or bring energy bills down by delaying plans to stop burning fossil fuels, and that support, incentives and regulation are needed to insulate what it calls the country's draughty buildings1.
"we stress that we won't meet our climate targets or bring energy bills down by delaying plans to stop burning fossil fuels and without the support, incentives and regulation needed to insulate our draughty buildings"
The council describes itself as bringing together hundreds of organisations across the built environment to accelerate policy and industry action for a decarbonised, nature-positive and climate-resilient UK1. It says it works with industry, local authorities and government to shape evidence-based policy that delivers warmer homes, lower bills, good jobs, healthier places and stronger communities1.
The letter followed two earlier public responses from the organisation. UKGBC published a reaction the day before, when rumours of the change in approach first emerged, and a further public response alongside comments from a range of its members1. The letter itself is available as a download from the council's site1.
The published material does not set out which specific policies were rolled back, nor the government's response to the letter. Those details have not been reported1.
Why it matters for households
The letter ties the pace of fossil fuel phase-out and the state of the UK's building stock directly to household bills. Its argument is that delaying the move away from fossil fuels, and proceeding without the support, incentives and regulation needed to insulate draughty buildings, works against both climate targets and lower energy bills1. For a household, that framing places the fabric of the home, its insulation and its heating source, at the centre of energy independence: a better-insulated home needs less energy to keep warm, and a home not reliant on burning fossil fuels is less exposed to the price of those fuels. The letter does not quantify any bill savings, and no figures for household costs or insulation rates appear in the published material1.
The policy area sits with the government department responsible for energy policy, while building and energy policy in Wales is devolved. The wider framework of regulation and policy affecting home energy is covered elsewhere on this site.
What happens next
No next steps, timetable or government reply are set out in the published material1.