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Expert calls for energy efficiency education over green taxes
29/10/09
Edited by Andy Jowett. The government should help UK families reduce their fuel consumption by improving education initiatives about energy efficiency, rather than introducing higher taxes on essential utilities, a financial expert has said.
Rebecca Atkinson, news editor of personal finance magazine Moneywise, warned that a shift towards a "polluter pays" taxation would "hurt the majority of people, regardless of their green credentials".
Her comments come after thinktank the Green Fiscal Commission (GFC) said a move towards higher "environmental taxes" would help to cut the UK's carbon emissions by more than 30 per cent by 2020, while also encouraging the development of more low-carbon industry and jobs.
However, Ms. Atkinson noted that most residential property owners saw their utility bills "rocket" last year and many households are struggling to pay their energy usage. It would be "a bit steep" to expect them to carry an additional financial burden to fight climate change.
Instead, she called for information about cutting unnecessary use and improving the energy efficiency of residential property, which will save money and help the environment.
