Heat Pump Association reacts to Conservative Leader Net Zero Speech

In response to the Conservative Leader, Kemi Badenoch’s speech on Net Zero, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive at the Heat Pump Association, said:

“During a time of significant progress, market growth and investment in the UK to reduce carbon emissions, this speech risks undermining confidence in the market, without providing an alternative plan.  

Net Zero is an outcome, not an ideology, which should not be used to divide us, and which will only be achieved through collaboration, consensus and certainty. Reducing our carbon emissions will not only be better for the planet but also the UK’s economy with the CBI reporting net zero economy growth by 10% and adding £83 billion to national income last year.  

Today’s speech has misrepresented the CCC’s objectives for heat pumps, it has never been suggested that consumers should ‘rip out’ working fossil fuel heating systems, rather promoting, through the natural cycle of replacement and new installations, that low carbon heating systems are installed. 

Of course, this transition must be carefully navigated, ensuring consumers are protected from excessive cost and receive quality products and installations, and an inordinate amount of work is being done by the Government and the sector to ensure this is the case. 

Business confidence rests not just on what the current Government says, but on the consensus across all major parties on climate action.

We urge the Conservative party to reconsider its approach to Net Zero policy, and work with the Government to develop a cross-party, politically palatable roadmap to achieving Net Zero which can be supported by all. This will shore up confidence in the supply chain and result in sustained levels of economic growth during a time of significant importance for the sector.”

Notes to Editors:

For media inquiries, please contact:

Olivia Smalley

Head of Policy and Communications

Email: Olivia.smalley@thehpa.org.uk

About the Heat Pump Association:

The HPA is the UK’s dedicated voice for the Heat Pump Sector, driving widespread deployment of heat pump technology throughout the UK. Our membership includes the country’s leading manufacturers of heat pumps, components, and associated equipment as well as energy companies, certification bodies, installers and training providers.  We currently represent over 120 member organisations working in the heat pump sector, with our members representing around 90% of the volume of heat pumps sold in the UK market.