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UK News

More than 200 church leaders call for the Chancellor to impose green energy as spring statement due to be announced

by Alex Collett

More than 200 church leaders have urged Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor to impose a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, ahead of the release of the spring statement.

The letter states that the money should be used to help people who are struggling to pay their heating bills, as energy prices rise.

Signatories on the letter include former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams and more than 30 serving Anglican bishops, coordinated by Christian organisations such as Tearfund, CAFOD, Christian Aid and many others.

The letter says: "We call on you to use the spring statement to provide financial and fiscal support for renewable energy and energy efficiency, especially solar and wind energy and the retrofitting of homes and other buildings across the UK. These measures would reduce heating bills, decrease carbon emissions and increase our energy security.

"The spring statement must include no support for new oil and gas developments. 

"The International Energy Agency has stated that there can be no new fossil fuel developments if we are to limit global heating to 1.5°C. 

"New oil and gas production will not deliver lower energy bills for families facing fuel poverty and will have no impact on energy supply for years.

"We urge you to increase support for vulnerable households across the UK facing a cost of living crisis as a result of increasing food and energy prices, through measures including a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.

"Many of our Churches have set 2030 net zero targets and are taking action to decarbonise our buildings, including through the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and other energy efficiency measures. 

"More than 2,000 churches across the UK participated in Climate Sunday ahead of COP26 and called on the UK Government to unleash a clean energy revolution and limit global heating to 1.5°C."

In its conclusion, the letter states that this is the time to end 'our dependence on fossil fuels and fund a fair and fast transition, which will secure our future economic prosperity and protect the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.'


 

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