Wiltshire makes mixed progress on meeting green initiatives
The crucial COP26 environmental summit kicks off in Glasgow today
New figures show how much progress parts of Britain are making towards meeting government-sponsored green initiatives – and it’s a mixed picture for Wiltshire.
Official government statistics show Wiltshire is ahead of the curve in installing renewable heating systems, but still has a disproportionately low number of electric vehicle charging points.
Expanding the electric vehicle network is a key government policy as part of its aim to significantly cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
The government hopes to make the UK ‘net zero’ – meaning it removes more carbon emissions from the atmosphere than it emits – by 2050, under legal targets set up during the COP21 summit held in Paris in 2015.
Details of the net zero strategy were released as world leaders gather in Glasgow for the crucial COP26 environmental summit, being widely called the world’s best last chance to halt irreversible climate change.
£620 million for electric vehicles nationally
£620 million was allocated in electric vehicle (EV) grants to support the rollout of charging infrastructure nationally.
But Wiltshire is behind many other parts of the UK in terms of how quickly EV charging points were being installed.
The Department for Transport says there were 167 public charging points in Wiltshire by the start of October 2021, up from 96 two years ago.
However, that’s only 33 points per 100,000 people – below the UK average of 39.
Nationwide, the number of EV charging points rose to 25,900 by the beginning of last month.
Wiltshire ahead in renewable heating
Separate figures show Wiltshire is above the national average in its rolling-out of domestic renewable heating systems.
Government data shows 94,000 renewable heating systems had been installed across Great Britain through its Renewable Heat Incentive by the end of September - 15% more than September 2020.
But Wiltshire saw a 20% year-on-year rise in installations; a total of 1,566 have now been installed.
The Renewable Heat Incentive is designed to help homeowners to swap their gas boiler for a more efficient renewable heating system.
That programme will soon be replaced by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which is set to launch next April with £450 million of funding.
The new scheme means households will be able to apply for £5,000 government grants to install low-carbon heating systems as part of plans to cut emissions from homes.
Officials insisted the strategy will deliver on commitments to cut greenhouse gases by 68% by 2030.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The UK’s path to ending our contribution to climate change will be paved with well-paid jobs, billions in investment and thriving green industries, powering our green industrial revolution across the country."
But Rebecca Newsom, Greenpeace UK's head of politics, said the plans are "more like a pick and mix than the substantial meal that we need to reach net zero", and ignore the need to reduce meat and dairy consumption.