EEF urges reform of climate policy

The call is made in a report entitled ‘Changing the climate for manufacturing’, published ahead of today’s budget by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

‘Manufacturers have already made substantial reductions in emissions,’ said Gareth Stace, EEF head of Climate and Environment Policy. ‘However, there is now increasing evidence that they are struggling under the weight of legislation at European and national level.

‘We now need a fresh approach. This will help a vibrant manufacturing sector to make a sustainable contribution to reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases, and continue investing and creating jobs in the UK.’

EEF says that the report reviews how climate-change policy affects industry 10 years on from the introduction of the Climate Change Levy (CCL) and argues that the current climate-change policy mix is failing four key tests that should form the basis of the new approach.

It argues that incentives must be clear, reliable and transparent; regulation should target the right places and be simple and not administratively burdensome; and measures and initiatives must take clear account of their impact on the competitiveness of businesses subject to regulation.