Lowest investment in energy efficiency since 2008

Thursday, 15 May 2014, 5:10 pm
Press Release: Generation Zero

Budget 2014: lowest investment in energy efficiency since 2008

Analysis by youth climate change organisation Generation Zero shows that government investment in energy efficiency in the 2014 budget has been cut to 12% lower than it was in 2008.

Funding allocated in the Budget to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), home insulation and energy efficiency grants and crown energy efficiency measures totals $70.6 million, compared with an inflation-adjusted total of $80.1 million in 2008.

“We’re concerned to see the Government moving backwards on energy efficiency. EECA has recently had to cut 20% of its staff and the only significant investment - funding for home insulation grants - is being scaled back,” said Generation Zero spokesperson Paul Young.

“This highlights the lack of any real effort to address climate change as laid out in our recent report, A Challenge to Our Leaders.

“Energy efficiency is an essential part of transitioning our energy and transport systems off fossil fuels and a major opportunity to improve our economy. EECA estimates that we could be saving $2.4 billion per year today simply by implementing cost-effective efficiency measures.

“Energy efficiency is a win-win solution to climate change, and by cutting back funding the Government is sending a message that it doesn’t care.”

Generation Zero is campaigning for political parties to commit to implementing a comprehensive Clean Energy Plan, following the lead of countries such as Denmark and the UK.

ENDS

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