The call to action is being made through the Energy Institute (EI) – a membership body for chartered professionals in the UK’s energy industry, representing more than 200 organisations and 20,000 individuals.

The EI has just published the findings of a survey it conducted with 360 of those individuals, tracking their opinions on green policy and revealing their professional priorities in the face of the energy price crisis and climate crisis.

That survey found that, over the past 12 months, professionals’ confidence in the UK’s ability to meet its own energy and climate commitment has dropped. Just 30% of the respondents have confidence in the achievement of the overarching 2050 net-zero target. This lack of confidence springs from perceived policy gaps in several key areas, including green skills, low-carbon heat and energy efficiency.

On energy efficiency, 70% of the survey respondents do not believe energy efficiency policy has had any positive impact over the past year. Energy efficiency in domestic buildings was flagged as a particular cause for concern. 90% of respondents did not see any positive policy impact on reducing fuel poverty this past year.

Within the past 12 month, the £1bn Green Homes Grant closed with the majority of its budget unspent. Initiatives have remained in place for social housing and public sector buildings, but the Government has faced continued calls for a new national retrofit programme for homes. Such a programme has not been announced, despite chances for this to have happened – most recently, through the Energy Security Strategy and Energy Security Bill.

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