By Imogen Thomas
On the 1st of October, the day Ofgem hiked energy bills to a 4-year high, Fuel Poverty Action campaigners joined forces with 350.org to deliver a petition with nearly 20,000 signatures to PM Andy Burnham, calling on him to bring down bills and #MakeGreenFair.
Members took the petition directly to Number 10, to call on the new Prime Minister to ensure that green measures deliver lower bills for the people who need them, not profiteering opportunities and savings for the rich at the expense of the worse-off.
While campaigners knocked on the door of Number 10, FPA members across the country took part in a photo action to draw attention to energy injustices: from expensive tariffs for electricity-reliant, fuel-poor households, to unfair access to savings from solar energy.
Stu Bretherton, Campaigns Lead at FPA, said:
“Without a guarantee that the benefits of clean energy will reach everyone, the transition risks repeating the mistakes of the past, where green policies disproportionately benefited wealthier households while others were left facing debt or higher costs.
If the energy transition is not fair, it risks deepening political division and fuelling misinformation about climate action. Meeting everyone’s essential needs should be the end goal of our energy system.
Fair distribution of renewable energy makes this deliverable today, guaranteeing that we can all afford adequate heating, lighting, washing and cooking.”
Sara Shaw, 350.org, said:
“Britain is producing more and more clean energy, but millions of people are still struggling with energy costs. The promise of the green transition cannot be something that only people who can afford the upfront costs get to enjoy.
We need to make green fair, so that everyone can benefit from the power of our wind and sun, cut their bills and live in a warm, healthy home.”
Larry the cat was approached for comment, but was napping at the time and was unable to respond.
The Make Green Fair petition builds on an open letter supported by more than 60 organisations, including Greenpeace and the Climate Justice Coalition. It calls on government ministers to “guarantee that everyone in the UK will get a fair share of the benefits of renewable energy”.
Campaigners from dozens of groups are coordinating their work by forming a Make Green Fair Coalition. If your group is interested in joining, email FPA’s Campaign Lead Stu: stu@fuelpovertyaction.org.uk.
The coalition is calling on the Government to:
- Embed equitable benefits from the energy transition across Government and Ofgem policies and plans.
- Meet with the organisations backing the campaign to discuss how this principle can be delivered in practice.
- Introduce an energy-saving guarantee within the Warm Homes Plan, ensuring that supported work delivers the improvements and bill savings promised.
