Yahoo Finance Switch to electric cars and heat pumps at risk after weakening of climate targets
Consumer group Which?, is urging the government to step up support for consumers facing challenges when transitioning to green technologies like electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps.
Weakening green targets could prevent necessary business investments, putting the fight against climate change at risk, according to Which?.
Over three-quarters (78%) of Brits are concerned about climate change, with 82% recognising their role in reducing their carbon footprint, Which?’s survey of 2,067 UK adults found.
“It’s clear that consumers want to play their part in helping tackle climate change, but our research has found that lack of awareness, reliable information and the cost of some green technologies is currently holding them back from leading more sustainable lives,” said Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy.
Electric vehicles
The number of people unwilling to consider purchasing an EV has risen from 20% in 2021 to 34% in 2023, Which? found.
Cost, availability of charging points, and home charge point installation costs were cited as the top barriers.
Read more: Home insulation take-up low despite £1bn government drive and soaring energy bills
It comes after prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a delay on the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the number of new plug-in vehicle registrations between January to March has increased every year since 2015.
In 2020, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for the majority of new plug-in vehicle registrations. In the first quarter of 2023, BEVs accounted for 72% of new plug-in vehicle registrations, with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) at 27%.
Mike Childs, head of policy at charity Friends of the Earth, said: "Rolling back on key climate commitments as the world is being battered by extreme flooding and wildfires would be morally indefensible."
Heat pumps
Barriers to the adoption of heat pumps, which significantly reduce carbon emissions, included a lack of awareness, with 44% of homeowners not knowing what a heat pump is.
Some 67% of respondents who did know about them cited affordability concerns as key issues.
The government has announcement increased funding for 300,000 eligible households to install insulation in a £1bn drive through the Great British insulation scheme.
This scheme was launched after the energy bill support scheme which gave every household a £400 discount on their energy bills between 2022 and 2023, ended in March 2023.
Under new support measures a boiler upgrade grant of £5,000 for an air-source heat pump and £6,000 for a ground-source heat pump will now be increased to £7,500.
Read more: Energy bills: What to expect this winter
Which? is calling for more support and awareness campaigns to facilitate the transition to green technologies.
Green confidence
The survey found more Brits taking eco-friendly measures at home, such as reducing food waste, conserving energy, and opting for greener travel modes.
Around 51% of people are on the path to greener living, while 20% have already embraced sustainable practices like planning what food they buy and composting or recycling household leftovers.
Which? is calling on the government to work with industry and consumer groups to improve infrastructure, ensuring affordability, and providing support to low-income households to enable consumers to make green choices and contribute to a more sustainable future.
"Consumers also need lower prices, more choice and confidence in making the switch to green alternatives," said Rocha.
Watch: Can COP 28 steer climate change back on course?
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