Ed Miliband’s Stance on Gas Boiler Ban and Climate Commitments
Ed Miliband is poised to reject recommendations from the Government’s own climate advisors, the Climate Change Committee, which calls for a ban on the sale of new gas boilers by the year 2035. This decision is pivotal for the UK to fulfill its net zero commitments, as reported by The i Paper.
The Climate Change Committee, in its seventh carbon budget report, emphasized that households could potentially save hundreds of pounds annually by transitioning away from fossil fuels. This transition includes adopting electric vehicles and heat pumps. The expert panel stated that reinstating the planned phase-out of new gas boilers by 2035—the so-called boiler ban—is essential for achieving the full decarbonization of homes by 2050.
By the year 2040, the committee anticipates that half of all homes in the UK will be heated using heat pumps, a significant increase from the mere 1% currently using them in 2023. However, sources close to the Energy Secretary have indicated that the Government does not support imposing such a ban on new gas boilers, placing Miliband at odds with the independent advisory committee.
This debate follows Miliband’s remarks to MPs last month, where he expressed caution about enforcing a gas boiler ban, stating, “I am very wary of saying that we will stop people having gas boilers at a point when we cannot guarantee that heat pumps will be cheaper for people.”
The Climate Change Committee’s latest advice outlines a targeted approach to eliminate the UK’s contribution to global warming. They recommend an ambitious 87% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2040. The committee has proposed a practical and cost-effective pathway to achieve the necessary greenhouse gas emissions cuts between 2038 and 2042, ensuring the UK meets its legally binding net zero goal by 2050.
- Approximately one-third of the required emissions reductions during this period will need to come from household actions, primarily through the purchase of electric vehicles and heat pumps to replace outdated gas boilers.
- The committee also highlighted that personal lifestyle choices, such as reducing meat and dairy consumption and minimizing air travel, will play a smaller yet significant role in lowering emissions. This aspect, however, has been dismissed by the Government.
The report noted: “Meat products will be largely replaced by existing alternative protein sources, some plant-based whole foods, and in the later years, novel alternative proteins.”
When questioned whether the Prime Minister expects the public to reduce meat consumption, a spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer responded, “No. We’re not going to dictate how people live their lives. We have defined our ambitious targets and will not impose restrictions on personal choices.”
The Government will ultimately decide on the level of emissions cuts to commit to for the period of 2038-2042, which constitutes the seventh installment in a series of five-year carbon budgets. This decision must be presented for parliamentary approval by the end of June next year.
In response to the recommendations, Ed Miliband, the Energy and Net Zero Secretary, stated that the Government would take the independent advice into account. He remarked, “It is evident that the best pathway to ensure energy security in Britain, reduce bills, and create jobs is by embracing the clean energy transition. Our mission as a clean energy superpower focuses on achieving these goals while also fostering economic growth and enhancing the well-being of working individuals.”
“We owe it to current generations to seize the opportunities for energy security and lower costs, and we owe it to future generations to confront the pressing climate crisis.”
