Green Councillor Simon Pickering has called upon Chancellor George Osbourne to take a brave stance in his upcoming spending statement.
“He has an opportunity to kick start the real economy, not just continue to support a housing bubble and the interests of corporations and top earners,” said Pickering.
“A simple measure would be to cut to zero the Fossil Fuel subsidies. Globally, fossil fuel subsidies cost in total £3.2 trillion a year, or £6.30 million a minute. The average UK family pays £1,000 per year”.
Yes, that’s £1,000 per household every year that this government is giving to support fossil fuels to continue to pollute the planet. How many policemen on the street or nurses that could pay for?
These fossil fuel subsidies are harming the poor and are based on short term goals rather than long term strategy. A recent analysis by the BBC shows that current government energy policies not only will increase the UK’s CO2 emissions but will actually cost consumers more.
Renewable energy on the other hand costs us around £100 per family per year and produces 25% of UK electricity.
Past energy policy encouraged the development of a range of energy sources including renewables.
The radical changes in energy policy that are expected to be included in the Chancellor’s spending statement will offer short term and limited relief to consumers at great cost to the UK’s role in reducing carbon emissions. The renewable industry in the UK, a segment of the economy that needs to play a huge role in the future, has already been damaged as a direct result of cuts to subsidies and rural solar projects.
The Green party believe that this country is at a crossroads; either you create a competitive system that responds to energy security but also to climate concerns, or you become increasingly uncompetitive.
Fossil Fuel subsidy reform is absolutely crucial to create a level playing field for energy generation.
Cllr Pickering said “there is a real window of opportunity to reform from this uneconomic position because of the low oil price. Governments are starting to realise that fossil fuel subsidies are a drain on budgets and continuing cuts on health, education and public welfare”.