UK government investing £3.9bn to tackle built environment emissions

The UK government has announced it is taking action to tackle emissions from the built environment sector.

As heating for homes and workspaces makes up almost a third of all UK carbon emissions, the government claims reducing these emissions is key to achieving the goal of net zero by 2050.

To address emissions from the wider built environment, the UK government is investing £3.9bn through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Heat Network Transformation Programme.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister Eddie Hughes said: “Net zero provides a real opportunity as we level up across the UK - delivering new green jobs and skills and boosting local economic growth.

“Many local areas are already taking action and we continue to work very closely with them to meet our climate change commitments.

“We are also taking action to cut the CO2 emissions of all new build homes by at least 75 per cent from 2025 under the Future Homes Standard, and by 31 per cent through an improvement in building standards later this year.”

The transition to net zero aims to drive levelling up across the country while supporting communities towards a greener future – providing opportunities for economic growth and delivering new green jobs for local people.

Many local areas are already taking strong action on climate change, including the Gateshead District Energy Scheme, a renewable heat network for up to 1,250 new homes, backed by £5.9m government funding.

Suffolk County Council has set out plans to build new walking and cycling infrastructure, work with industry in Suffolk to utilise innovative waste heat technology, and deliver a public education campaign on the climate emergency to change behaviour.

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