GWPF Condemns Misleading Committee on Climate Change Report on Policy Costs

Today’s statement on Energy Prices and Bills by Lord Deben’s Committee on Climate Change confirms growing suspicions that it is neither objective nor reliable as an advisor to the public about the true cost of climate policies.

The CCC’s attempt to reassure the public about the cost impact of climate policies is a misleading whitewash. Contrary to the spin of the CCC, their own figures show that almost all the projected increase in domestic electricity prices between 2016 and 2030 is the result of energy and climate policies.

According to the CCC’s own work (see chart 1.7) energy and climate policies have increased prices to domestic consumers by 33% in 2016. In other words they are 33% higher at present than they would be in the absence of policies. This figure will rise to 40% in 2020 and to over 50% in 2030.

The CCC covers up this large and damaging price increase by claiming that efficiency measures reduce consumption, meaning that the price increases are not converted into rising energy bills. More objectively one might say that government subsidy spending on renewables, and other climate policies, is preventing consumers from reaping the benefits of efficiency measures leading to lower energy bills.

Dr John Constable, energy editor of the Global Warming Policy Forum, said:

The CCC’s study has the clear hallmarks of deliberate and shameless obfuscation. With smoke and mirrors they attempt to turn additional climate policy taxes and stealth taxes, which the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates at about £7 billion a year at present and £12 billion a year in 2020, into net benefits for energy consumers. This is nothing short of a disgrace to the current committee members responsible."

The Global Warming Policy Forum is calling on the government to radically reform the selection and workings of the Committee on Climate Change which is misleading the public on the real cost impacts of climate policy.