Nadhim Zahawi promises blackouts are ‘highly unlikely’
The government will not tell people to cut energy use because it is “not a nanny state”, but refuses to rule out rationing, the climate minister has said.
On the Prime Minister’s decision to avoid a public information campaign to save energy, Graham Stuart said the government was “hesitant to tell people what to do”.
Stressing that the government is not a “nanny state”, explained Mr. Stuart: “What we’re willing to do is talk to heavy energy users and talk to consumers with smart technology to reward them for reducing energy at peak times.
“The danger is that if you had a kind of blanket message of ‘use less energy’ that people would take the wrong lessons into account.”
It comes as British households face three-hour blackouts if gas imports fail to meet demand this winter, National Grid has warned.
Russia’s war has created “unprecedented turmoil and volatility” in energy markets, the company said on Thursday, adding that previously planned power cuts may be necessary to prioritize power plants.
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Lack of energy saving campaign is ‘another example of government failures’ – Friends of the Earth
Responding to the news that the government is not telling people to reduce global energy use, Friends of the Earth head of policy Mike Childs said: “The government could easily provide people with simple advice on how to reduce energy consumption, for example by adjusting boiler controls, which would both help improve energy security and reduce harmful carbon emissions.
“Failure to help people understand how to reduce energy consumption is another example of government failures in the energy crisis. Throughout 2022, basic insulation such as attic wall insulation and cavity, could have been rolled out to households most in need and all households offered independent energy saving advice.
“This would have reduced energy bills, reduced gas consumption and reduced government spending on the energy price freeze.
“If we have blackouts this winter, the government’s woeful lack of early action and preparation will be a key reason.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 1:00 p.m
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The Climate Minister suggests that King Charles can attend Cop27 if he wishes
A minister has suggested the king can make his own decision about whether to attend an international climate conference in Egypt, amid reports the prime minister advised the monarch not to attend.
Liz Truss objected to King Charles III attending Cop27, which takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh next month.
Speaking during a series of interviews broadcast on Friday morning, Climate Minister Graham Stuart said “wherever King Charles decides to go, I think it’s very much up to him”, but added that “ministers without doubt they would advise it.”
But Stuart also said he did not know whether the report of the Prime Minister’s speech was correct.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Charles will not attend the international meeting, despite his long-standing commitment to environmental issues.
The Sunday Times reported that the decision not to go was made after the prime minister raised objections during an audience with the monarch at the Palace last month.
“It is clear that this is a decision that has been taken by consensus between the king and the government,” Leveling Up secretary Simon Clarke said earlier this week.
Any suggestion the king was “ordered to stay away” is “simply not true”, Clarke said.
Asked about the reports, Mrs Stuart said on Friday: “Wherever King Charles decides to go, I think it’s very much up to him.”
Asked again if the reports were correct, he said: “I don’t know.”
And then asked if he as climate minister would like the king to go, Mr Stuart said: “I don’t think it’s for ministers … to tell the king what he should do or what he shouldn’t do.”
Asked again about the reports when speaking to LBC, Stuart said: “I don’t. I can’t comment on that.
“If the king, Charles, goes to Sharm (el-Sheikh) … I would have thought it would be up to him, although ministers would certainly advise against it.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 12:30 p.m
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Licenses available for sectors of the North Sea to generate new supplies of gas and oil
Licenses are being made available for sectors of the North Sea, known as blocks, and the NSTA estimates that more than 100 may be granted to encourage the production of new gas and oil supplies.
Companies are asked to apply for licenses for areas west of Shetland, north of the North Sea, central North Sea, south of the North Sea and east of the Irish Sea.
A total of 898 blocks and sub-blocks are being made available, but in a bid to encourage the production of new oil and gas supplies as soon as possible, the NSTA has identified four “priority cluster areas” south of the north sea
These areas, located near Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, are known to contain hydrocarbons and are close to existing infrastructure, giving them the potential for rapid development.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 12:03 p.m
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New oil and gas exploration ‘good for the environment’, climate minister says
A new round of licenses for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea will be “good for the environment”, Climate Minister Graham Stuart has said.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) will begin the 33rd offshore licensing round, with the UK government arguing that increasing production will boost the economy and energy security.
“Our development will not affect our use,” said Stuart, “I know it sounds contradictory, but it’s actually good for the environment.”
But Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “We can only hope to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees C if we leave fossil fuels in the ground.
“The government’s claim that burning ever more fossil fuels from the North Sea will help the UK meet its international obligations to become net zero by 2050 has no connection to reality – we really have gone through the looking glass “.
The Green Party also said that any new production, even if quickly, would not be available for years and would therefore not help address the current crisis.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 11:43 am
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Nicola Sturgeon says UK government is ‘undermining energy security’
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is concerned the UK government is “undermining energy security” in the long term.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said: “I’m concerned now that what we’re hearing from the UK government is just a continuation of their haphazard energy planning and, in the long term, what they’re doing it is undermining energy security instead of strengthening it”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 11:17 am
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Truss decision to scrap energy saving campaign ‘dogmatic and dangerous’
On the Prime Minister’s decision to scrap an energy saving campaign, Will Hodson, consumer champion and founder of How To Save It, said: “Blocking a campaign that encourages households to use less energy is dogmatic and dangerous.
“Since the government has put the taxpayer on the hook for every unit of energy used in the country, they have a duty to help us use less. This abdication of responsibility will undoubtedly increase the likelihood of blackouts.
“The simple truth is that using less energy is also the best way for households to reduce their bills. I would urge the Prime Minister to rethink his strategy and be honest with the British people about the situation in which we find ourselves.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 10:50 am
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What are power outages and why might they happen this winter?
Households could face blackouts of up to three hours at a time this winter if gas-fired power stations are unable to continue operating due to the energy crisis, the National Grid has warned.
Although unlikely, this year could see the first planned blackouts, which the network calls “rotating load shedding,” since the 1970s.
But Prime Minister Liz Truss has ruled out launching a public information campaign to save energy as she is “ideologically opposed” to an “interventionist” approach, according to The Times.
What are power outages and why might they happen this winter?
Households could face blackouts of up to three hours at a time this winter if gas-fired power stations are unable to continue operating due to the energy crisis, the National Grid has warned. Although unlikely, this year could see the first planned blackouts, which the network calls “rotating discharges,” since the 1970s. But Prime Minister Liz Truss has ruled out launching a public information campaign to save energy as she is “ideologically opposed” to an “interventionist” approach, according to The Times. Subscribe to our newsletters.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain October 7, 2022 10:20 am
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The government does not advise people to reduce their energy consumption
The government is not telling people to reduce overall energy consumption, a minister has said, but refused to rule out rationing.
Climate Minister Graham Stuart said that rather than looking to reduce overall use, the government is supporting the energy regulator to come up with solutions to provide incentives to businesses and consumers to potentially reduce energy demand in rush hour if necessary.
During a series of interviews broadcast on Friday, he said the UK’s energy security is “quite strong”, noting that National Grid has said blackouts this winter are an “unlikely” scenario.
Stuart also said he did not recognize a report in The Times which claimed that business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg signed off on a £15m public information campaign about using less energy this winter only because the plan was discarded by Prime Minister Liz Truss. .
“I don’t recognize that. We are in an iterative process of developing policies and ideas, and we come to a conclusion,” Stuart said…