One of the key stories in this section tells us that an “advisory body” is promoting “draconian measures” in a “crack down” on ill-insulated homes.
“Advisory body” is so bland its etymological origins must lie deep in a civil service lexicon of buck-passing and obfuscation. On the other hand “draconian measures” and “crack down” are from that bane of good governance the Home Secretary’s random press release-generator. You know the kind of thing: “The Home Secretary has announced draconian measures to crack down on yobs and hooligans who are terrorising Britain’s towns and cities”. (Incidentally when translated into plain English this means “The Home Secretary has served up a rehashed initiative with the aim of attracting favourable press coverage in red top newspapers”.)
What can all this have to do with climate change? Let’s do some detective work.
The advisory body is the Energy Saving Trust: “an independent, UK-based organisation focused on promoting action that leads to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions – a key contributor to man-made climate change.”
The draconian measure at the centre of the crack down is the Energy Savings Trust urging the government to ban property rated in the F to G energy efficiency bracket from being rented or sold from 2015. If enacted this would be a seriously curb on the freedom of individuals and organisations. It would have a significant impact on property values.
We are told upgrading F and G properties to E standards would save 9.4 million tonnes of CO2. OK, but at what cost? What are the relative social, economic and environmental benefits of this anti-climate change measure as opposed to others?
Climate change is the most pressing environmental issue. Best then to present proposals supported by thoughtful measurement and shaped by rational argument than ones spruced up with headline-grabbing tabloid terminology.